Man, 92, killed as house firebombed after fatal shooting

AN elderly man was killed and his Cocorite house firebombed during the early morning hours on Monday in what police said was  retaliation for the shooting death of a 24-year-old man hours earlier.

Police reported that 92-year-old George Lewis' Harding Place house was fire-bombed at 4.45 am. His wife Eldena Lewis, 82, police said, pulled his body out of the burning house, where police later found him. Police said they could not confirm if Lewis was killed by the fire, as they are awaiting the results of an autopsy. They said he had a wound to the head which they believe was caused by a gunshot.

His wife is said to have suffered burns to her back while pulling him out of the house. She was later taken to the St James Medical Complex.

Police said one of the elderly couple's two dogs was shot dead. They said gunmen went to Lewis' house in search of a younger male relative who the gunmen believe was behind the shooting death, hours earlier, of Akiel "Smeagol" Andrews.

Police said Andrews was found shot dead in a white Nissan B13 car. Residents nearby reported hearing gunshots at around 11.40 pm and found Andrews' body. Police said his murder was gang-related.

At present, police are still at the Lewises' home continuing their investigations.