A Bermudian grandfather was shot dead in his bed along with his girlfriend in their home in Jamaica.

Vaughn Fubler, 56, from Devonshire, was asleep when an intruder shot him in the back of the neck, according to Jamaica Police.

It is thought his 32-year-old Jamaican girlfriend, Sherene Henry, was killed seconds later when she was shot in the back following a brief struggle.

The murderer then escaped before the bodies were discovered in the home in the quiet St. Mary's District in northern Jamaica by Mr. Fubler's caretaker on Monday at 9 a.m. The time of the killing has not been revealed.

Mr. Fubler's devastated family and former colleagues from HWP's St. John's Road gas station, where he was a popular yard assistant, paid tribute yesterday.

News of Mr. Fubler's murder followed the gunning down of 26-year-old Bermudian father Garrow (Trevor) Lightbourn Jr. in Pennsylvania on Sunday night, allegedly by Mr. Lightbourn's cousin.

Jamaica Police spokeswoman Angella McTaggart told The Royal Gazette: "The report we have so far is that Mr. Fubler and his girlfriend Sherene Henry were found murdered at their home.

"Their bodies were discovered by Mr. Fubler's caretaker and contractor after he had made numerous telephone calls and efforts to contact Mr. Fubler and his girlfriend.

"He went to their premises, where he discovered the bodies at 9 a.m. on Monday. Mr. Fubler's body was found in his bed. It appears he was killed in his sleep.

"Sherene was found on the floor. There was a struggle it appears, because the lamp was smashed on the floor. The possibility exists that the gunshot which killed Mr. Fubler could have woken Sherene."

Ms McTaggart said each victim received one gunshot wound, with Ms Henry suffering another injury, possibly as a result of the broken lamp.

The motive is not yet known, though it is deemed unlikely to be the result of a burglary. Mr. Fubler's Toyota Corolla, which was parked at the front of the yard, appeared to have been broken into and the trunk and driver's door left open.

Mr. Fubler's cousin, Oliver Caisey, is among those left behind to mourn his tragic death.

He said: "My first reaction when I heard of the death was one of shock. I said to myself 'not Vaughn' because he was such a nice guy.

"He was the type of person that would go beyond the call of duty if he knew he could assist you, and many people who made regular contact with him when he worked at the gas station (Shell service station on St. John's Road) would attest to that. He was just a really easy-going guy."

Charles Farmer, a close associate of the deceased, added: "Everybody is stunned. Vaughn was such a quiet, kind, giving and very likeable individual who believed in service.

"He was a very committed individual and just a very good guy."

Wesley Wilson, assistant manager at the St. John's Road gas station, where Mr. Fubler worked as a yard assistant for the past six years, said customers and staff were in shock.

"At first I had a hard time comprehending what had happened, that it was him — not necessarily that the offence took place, but that it was him," said Mr. Wilson.

"Knowing how he was at work, Vaughny would always be kind, thoughtful and in his own way loveable. He was not the kind of guy who had enemies.

"We don't speculate about why it might have happened. Our focus is on Vaughny's life and his contribution to the customers and to his fellow mates who worked with him, including me.

"He was very solemn in the sense that his expressions were always serious, but underneath he was a very funny fellow. Not only funny, he was giving and kind-hearted. He would do anything for you.

"He was funny in the sense that his solemn face would change dramatically when a joke was coming by, or he had a joke to tell. When he laughed, his smile was as big as his face.

"His attitude to customers was second to none. He built a rapport with a certain group of customers who always specifically asked for him. They would call for their Vaughny.

"People have been coming here today and asking for him and they are in shock when we tell them what's happened."

Mr. Wilson added that the Jamaica home where Mr. Fubler was killed — which he was in the process of building — was his "pride and joy". He visited Jamaica whenever he had time off work, and had been there since early January.

Jonathan Brewin, president and chief executive officer of HWP said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of one of our employees who died suddenly on Monday in Jamaica.

"As we grieve this tremendous loss, the thoughts and prayers of everyone at HWP are with the employee's family during this difficult time.

"As this matter is currently being investigated by Police in another jurisdiction, we cannot comment further at this time."

This newspaper reported yesterday how, according to investigators in the US, Mr. Lightbourn was shot in the chest on Sunday night by Cornell R. (Henny) Shawell at a low-income housing complex in Pottstown, a small community about 35 miles from Philadelphia.

Government House issued this short statement yesterday: "We are saddened to learn of the loss of these two Bermudian lives and extend sincere condolences to their families."