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The family of Owen 'Damaine' Daye, a taxi operator from Southfield, St Elizabeth, has been plunged into a state of disbelief after he was shot and killed in the town on Monday evening.

Reports from the Junction police are that about 6:15 p.m., Daye was in his community when two armed men travelling on a motorcycle opened fire hitting him several times.

The police were alerted and he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The police are investigating.

Daye's family described him as a kind, honest, and active member of his community, and family members are struggling to understand what could have caused his murder.

Very dependable person

"He was a very dependable person, you could always rely on him. If you see him 10 times for the day, probably eight and a half time he's smiling," Dadrian Burton, his brother-in-law told CENTRAL STAR.

He said the tragedy has shaken up the family, especially Daye's younger sister, who, after months abroad, was planning a surprise visit home.

"This is really touchy for everybody. He has a sister who was overseas for about four or five months, and she had the intention of coming back and surprising them. And she came the same day it happened. She left directly from the airport, and drove to the crime scene. So this surprise end up turning into mourning," he said

Burton remembers Daye, 38, as a doting father and son.

"The Sunday he dropped some water for his mother, and he was saying that he can't stay long because Daniel (his son) school stuff needed sorting out. He took his measurement and so forth, that was the last time his mother said he saw him," he said

His wife, Keneisha Daye, was too overcome with grief to speak and now has the task of raising two young children on her own.

It's very hard on everyone," Burton said.