Bermuda was this weekend gunned down by a gang of teenagers in the US.

Latanya Lavallais, sometimes known in Bermuda as Latanya Williams, was shot five times while looking after the teenage delinquent daughter of the minister of her church in Denver, Colorado.

Her cold-blooded killers then stole her car and went joyriding.

Last night stunned grandfather Maurice Williams, of North Shore Road, Pembroke, said: "It's a terrible, terrible tragedy.

"Latanya was a warm and caring person who was looking forward to coming to live in Bermuda.

"But she was gunned down by a gang of heartless teenagers in cold blood -- it's very difficult to express my feelings right now.'' And he added: "If she hadn't been so caring she wouldn't have been looking after a girl who has been in a lot of trouble for some years.'' Ms Lavallais, 23, daughter of Valeria Vermont, whose maiden name was Cox, died on Friday night.

She visited Bermuda for the first time late last year, fell in love with the Island and had acquired Bermudian status.

Mr. Williams said his grand-daughter had worked at Front Street, Hamilton, jewellers Crisson's for several months and got an apartment in the Happy Valley Road area.

He added she had hoped to get another job with the firm on her return to the Island -- scheduled for next month.

Mr. Williams added: "She loved Bermuda and only went back to Denver to settle up a few things. I can't believe this has happened.

"She has a lot of family in Bermuda and made a lot of friends. We're all shocked and Latanya's mother is devastated -- she's under heavy sedation.'' Mrs. Vermont left the Island more than 20 years ago after marrying a US servicemen stationed on the Island, Ms Lavallais' father.

She was widowed several years ago and remarried Denver-based engineer Errol Vermont.

Mr. Williams said he knew from his daughter and Mr. Vermont that Ms Lavallais had agreed to look after the 16-year-old girl -- the daughter of the woman minister at the family's church.

He added that the minister's daughter had a history of trouble-making and was under house-arrest and electronically tagged.

Mr. Williams said Ms Lavallais had gone to the house as arranged on Friday night.

He said it is believed that four teenage boys and a teenage girl were already at the house and she was shot -- including twice in the head -- and died instantly.

Mr. Vermont drove to the 16-year-old's house after being unable to get answer on the phone and was told by the teenager that Ms Williams had already left.

He noticed his stepdaughter's car had gone and returned home. But when Ms Lavallais had still not returned home on Saturday morning, he re-visited the teenager's house and found his step-daughter's body.

It is understood several teenagers aged between 16 and 17 have been arrested in connection with the incident, but that no-one has yet been charged with the murder of Ms Lavallais.

BERMUDIAN BDA