Almost everyone who knew Willabus and his family - wife and three sons - could not muster the strength and mental fortitude to continue their chores when told of the tragedy.

One man in New Jersey with whom Willabus had a firm association mildly said on Tuesday evening, "It has been hours since I got the news, and up to now I can't catch myself...is like 'ah mean, the whole family...no, man, no that can't be."

Owner of Memory Makers and Executive Producer of New Jersey's recently-launched television programme Musik Media, Dexter Pembroke has had to keep his kids from learning of the family's demise, since as he said, "as personal friends, Ian's family and my family got so close that I think my daughters and their mom ain't gonna' be able to handle this".

Pembroke said someone had called him early on Tuesday inquiring whether he was aware of Willabus' whereabouts.

"But I didn't know that it was leading to this," he said, adding that he and Willabus had done so much together that his demise was a giant blow since they both were "progressing nicely towards our own personal aspirations."

WRHM Capitol News' International Affairs correspondent, Gordon Moseley who is in New York on assignment, struggled to make his voice audible as he recalled Willabus' personality, and achievements in various sectors of Guyana's national media.

"Ian was following a dream, and this is a nightmare to me to know that he got there (CNN) and then is there no more," he choked.

And, Louisiana State University's student-athlete Marian Burnett who drove with a friend for eight hours to spend a weekend with Willabus and his family last year, could not say much after getting the news of her fellow Lindener's death.

"You gotta' understand my loss for words...it's the silence I am experiencing now with such a great voice and personality gone...he and his family were so dear...why, why?" she wondered.

Former GTV News anchor Natasha Waldron who is in Washington on holiday cried and was reluctant to hear any talk of the family's death, even if it had to do with eulogising them.

"He made such a positive impact on us with his dutifulness and drive, and was so capable of achievements...I can't understand this," was the reaction of Kim Whyte, a secretary at New York's National Pride Inc. where Willabus worked for a short while at the Queens office.

A former schoolmate, Stacy DeMendonca moaned her disbelief at Willabus' death, saying "he always had great aspirations and I least expected something like this, so young...and along with his family too".

Willabus was also remembered as a cyclist of promise during the time he competed in the sport back in Guyana.

"His athletic ability, as well as his undying aim to reach the pinnacle of his profession really struck me, but this thing here really shake me to the bone even up to now," noted former Guyana cycling champion and U.S.-based businessman Victor Rutherford who had associated with him often when they both lived in New Jersey.

Former fellow flight attendant at the now defunct Guyana Airways Corporation, Alitha Conway-Wills said she had calls to and from "almost everyone who knew Ian at GAC, and thought I am led to believe this 'unbelievable turn of events' is true. I cannot accept it...I am deeply shocked and so are many of Ian's former co-workers."

She said Willabus' death is the second loss in a closely-knit group of five colleagues at the former airline following the departure of co-worker Ewart Layne sometime ago.

"Only the women of the side are left, and we are hurt...deeply hurt."

The death of the five Guyanese "totally shocked" Guyana's Consul General to New York, Mr. Brentnol Evans.

He recalled his personal joy when Willabus visited his office and said that he was with CNN International.

"I said that that is such a wonderful thing, almost a standard bearing achievement for a Guyanese, and I wished him and his family well".

The Consul General offered his office's condolences to the relatives, friends and other associates of the deceased.

According to a DeKalb County police source, the bodies of Willabus, his wife and three sons from a previous marriage, were found in their apartment off Kensington Road in DeKalb County.

The family appeared to have been dead for several days, apparently of gunshot wounds, and reports state that Willabus may have been the shooter.

The shooting described as "domestic in nature" may have occurred sometime over the weekend.

Willabus moved to Georgia in 2001 when he landed a job as a freelance writer with CNN International after serving as a 'stringer' for several years.

He had contributed frequently on a broad array of subjects over the years, including assignments in Pakistan, and recently visited Guyana to compile stories on various issues, including the crime situation.