Four killed in St. James

Noelita Lawrence – Staff Reporter

The bloodletting in the murder stained parish of St. James shows no signs of letting up, with shootings claiming the lives of four men, two in the volatile community of Flanker.

Those killed have been identified as 46-year-old Dwayne Malahoo, a shop operator of Central Avenue, Flanker; 22-year-old Robert Gibbs, also known as ‘Dada’, of Headley Quarters, also in Flanker; 18-year-old Tris Gulpin of Matches Lane, Rose Heights, and 22-year-old David Arnold, otherwise called ‘Ron’, unemployed of Beverly Hills, Norwood.

The blood bath started in Flanker on Friday night with the killing of Malahoo.

The police say residents of Central Avenue heard gunfire about 11:30 and called them.

According to reports, Malahoo was attacked by armed men who engaged him in conversation before shooting him.

It was further reported that after being shot Malahoo ran in an attempt to get away from his attackers but was chased, cornered and shot several times, mostly to the upper body.

The police say while they were processing that crime scene about 2 a.m., they heard gunshots nearby and went to investigate. They, however, found nothing. About 4 a.m., residents found Gibbs’ body and again called the cops.

On the arrival of the police, his bullet-riddled body was found on the ground.

Another shooting incident in Flanker on Sunday saw a 15-year-old student escaping unharmed.

The teen was reportedly sitting on his verandah in Red Dirt about 5:20 p.m., when he was pounced upon by a lone gunman known to him. He was shot at but managed to escape.

In the meantime, gunfire erupted in Matches Lane, Rose Heights on Saturday evening, leaving a teenager dead.

Eighteen-year-old Tris Gilpin was cut down in his community after gunshots rang out shortly after 7 p.m.

Reports from the Montego Bay Police are that about 7:28 p.m., residents heard explosions and summoned them.

On arrival of the lawmen, Gilpin was seen lying on a section of the roadway with several gunshot wounds.

He was pronounced dead at hospital.

GUNNED DOWN IN SAMMY BUSH

David Arnold was shot dead in Sammy Bush, Norwood on Friday afternoon.

According to the Montego Hills Police, about 2:45 p.m., residents reportedly heard gunshots and summoned them to the area.

On their arrival, Arnold was found lying on his back with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.

He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

GRIEVING MOTHER

David’s mother, Letisha Arnold, who lost her husband Linford in 2006 and her son Adam in 2008, was beside herself with grief, when she got news of her son’s death from one of her daughters.

“A don’t know how much more mi can bear. Ron nuh trouble people so I don’t know what happen,” said Mrs. Arnold.

Mrs. Arnold, who walks with the aid of crutches, related that the family was at their Beverly Hills home on Friday, including Ron, when she left home for a while to tend to some personal matters. Upon her return, she was greeted with the devastating news.

“I ask them what happen, everybody alright, where is Ron? They gave me a seat and that is when my daughter told me that Ron had been shot and is dead, it was like a dagger to my heart”. I began to tremble,” said a grieving Mrs. Arnold.

“He was so dear to me, dear to me heart”, she noted.

Over 240 persons have been killed in St. James since the start of the year, the highest number in any of the nine Police Divisions in the island which has accounted for more than 1,260 murders since January 1.

Barrington Flemming also contributed