Barrington Flemming
Traffic halted, motorists hastily reversed and pedestrians scampered for cover as a reputed gangster and murder suspect was cut down during a brazen daylight attack on a team of policemen during a targeted operation at guest house in Montego Bay on Wednesday afternoon.
An illegal weapon, a Browning single action pistol, was also recovered at the scene.
The dead man has been identified as 18 year-old Khalid Walters otherwise called ‘TJ’ and ‘One O’ Clock’ of Red Square, Tucker, St. James.
Information gleaned by the Western Mirror indicate that about 2:20 p.m. a team of policemen went to the guest house along Thompson Street to execute a warrant on Walters, who the police say was a reputed member of the 13th Street Gang and who was listed as the triggerman in the murder the previous day of 28 year-old Nigel Smith and the shooting and wounding of another man at Red Square.
Smith was shot and killed while at a shop in the area about 9 o’clock Tuesday night.
The police team on arrival at the premises secured a section of the guest house and acting on intelligence went to a room to execute the warrant.
The lawmen reportedly knocked on the door and called out ‘open the door’ but were reportedly fired at through the door by Walters. The police took evasive action, breached the door and upon entering the room saw Walters armed with a gun, which he pointed at the police, who responded by opening fire hitting him to the upper body.
After the shooting subsided Walters was seen with gunshot wounds clutching the firearm in his hand. The firearm was retrieved and the wounded Walters, was subsequently taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Walters is said to have also featured in a number of recent murders and shootings in the parish.
