Western Bureau:

A woman was killed, six houses torched and an entire community left traumatised as gunmen wreaked havoc in Salt Spring, St James, yesterday morning.

Cecelia Coke, 38, a resident, was shot more than 30 times. Up to midday, her body was still in the open lot where she was killed. "It must be a miracle that only one person was killed as it was non-stop shooting from 2 a.m. until daylight," a resident said.

Police say about 2 a.m., a party was in full swing in Meggie Top, Salt Spring, when gunmen invaded, firing a barrage of shots. Several people were injured, at least one woman by a bullet, as partygoers fled in panic.

burnt sound system

The gunmen set fire to the truck that transported the sound system that was playing. Several speaker boxers and other items belonging to the sound-system operator were also burnt.

People fleeing the shooting ran into more heavily armed men firing shots and setting houses on fire. It was at that time Coke was killed.

Firefighters were reportedly prevented from challenging the fires by rifle-bearing thugs, who stood guard to ensure the houses were completely gutted. "We discovered that some six houses were burnt," said District Officer Terri-Ann Leslie of the St James Fire Department. "We can confirm that 39 persons, including nine children, are now homeless."

- Rasbert Turner