A grief-stricken Claudia McNeil fought to overcome emotions as she attempted to paint a picture to The Gleaner of the unbreakable bond she had with her deceased daughter, 28-year-old Shannakay Ebanks, who was shot and killed at her home on Fourth Street in Trench Town, Kingston, around 3 a.m. on Sunday.

Armed thugs allegedly kicked open the door to Ebanks’ home at 20 Fourth Street, pumping bullets into her and her boyfriend, Damarile Hall.

According to residents, the couple’s slaying may have been a reprisal for the murder of a woman from the same street just hours before.

A Gleaner source alleged that the woman was shot and killed in a cross fire between gang rivals.

Residents were peeved at the fact that although a state of public emergency checkpoint is located a short distance away on Collie Smith Drive, the killers managed to escape.