WORTHY CHAMPIONS! Delighted members of the Challengers Masters team hoist the winning Masters League trophy following their victory over Faithful in the final on Sunday at Jarrett Park. - Noelita Lawrence photo
Noelita Lawrence – Staff Reporter
After more than a decade toiling, perseverers Challengers finally got their hand on the Western Masters League trophy.
Challengers, perennial semi-finalists, etched their names on the winners’ list with a come-from-behind 3-1 thrashing of first-time finalists Faithful Masters in the championship game of the Keith/Michael Thorpe League played at Jarrett Park on Sunday.
Jerry Foster, Omar Clarke and Philmore Thompson were the scorers for the newly installed champions, while an own-goal was the contributor for the Faithful team.
After a brisk start to the finale, Faithful found the early advantage somewhat against the run of play when an own-goal was turned in on 11 minutes to send the unfancied Faithful ahead.
However, after falling behind, Challengers upped the tempo and swarmed their opponent’s goal mercilessly, looking for the equalizer.
They had a few near brushes before finally leveling the scores through a well-worked build-up.
From a three-man play down the flank, Foster got on the end of a weighted cross deep inside the six-yard box to powerfully head home unchallenged between three defenders.
The goal pushed Faithful on the retreat as they only just managed to keep the scores level at 1-1 heading into the halftime break.
Challengers took the lead 10 minutes into the second half when former Seba United player Clarke, got on the end of an exquisite 35-yard pass and with his opponents caught ball-watching, he slammed home on the run from an acute angle.
Nine minutes later, Challenger all but wrapped up the game as a contest when a defensive error saw the Faithful captain, Timothy Graham, robbed of the ball after a deep back pass.
The ball was then tapped into the back of the net, sealing the win for the Challengers team to their delight.
SECTIONAL AWARDS
Meanwhile, the fleet-footed striker Omar Clarke of the champions won the Golden Boot award for his eleven goals (11), while the Most Valuable Player award went to Michael Thompson.
This year’s competition, which saw the absence for former many-times winners Hanover Masters, First Choice and Jamaica Brazil, saw a total of 12 teams participating before Cambridge Masters was kicked out.
Brian Miller, organizer of the event, said, “This year’s competition was a good one. We had our challenges at times, but in the end it was OK.”
“Cause when yuh check it out Lawd, nuh weh nuh betta dan yaad…” – Tinga Stewart.
As we reflect on the many trials, tribulations and triumphs we’ve faced, endured and enjoyed, it’s easy to take for granted how much we’ve accomplished, for we are as they would say in school, ’hard markers’ when it comes to giving each other a passing grade. As Omar McCloud, the recently minted 110 metres world champion put it, we’ve been spoilt, so used to winning that we often forget to big up those who work so hard just to be in the race to begin with. But that’s part of being Jamaican. Nuff ah we ah band-wagonists but deep down, if we really and truly check fi yuh, win, lose or draw we love yuh same way. Yes, we have our issues, some home-grown, many imported and deported, but there is something about Jamaica and Jamaicans that is remarkably colourful, undeniably magnetic and just unlike any other country or people on the planet.
Give Thanks & Praises
So yes, despite the many challenges and issues that constantly remind us how human we are, we still have much to be thankful for. I can’t believe it’s been 30 years since Roy Rayon won the National Festival Song competition with his catchy entry marking our 25th anniversary as an independent nation. That means several things; we’ve come a long way since then, great music stands the test of time and yes, we are well and truly getting up there in age. Even as a Jamaican, I can’t quite figure us out for it seems we’re also innately schizophrenic. How else can you explain a people being so steeped in the revolutionary spirit and equally docile in the face of glaring displays of poor leadership and corruption? How do we pull off being so brash and colourful and still be humble and respectful? The Honourable Usain St. Leo Bolt readily comes to mind. Many things about being a Jamaican, especially in Jamaica, just don’t add up. Even the gunmen know better than to turn their weapons on our cash crop, tourism, because at a cellular level they get that random, even unnecessary acts of violence that adversely affect our primary income earner makes no sense whatsoever, even if committing daring daylight deadly attacks on their targets or their relatives does. It defies logic how we can be so amazing and destructive in almost the same breath. What it does prove though is that we excel in just about everything we put our minds and hands to, good and bad. So when we’re good, you guess it, we’re very very good. Unfortunately, when we decide fi bad, God help anybody it’s directed at. That’s why you can either love or hate us, no grey area, nothing neutral or in between. Full ah life, vibes, ism and schism and love, yes, more than anything else love.
To Di Worl’
So even while I took great pride in returning to a big stage, the MoBay Independence Gala stage in front of my fellow Jamaicans and visitors alike, I remind myself that we didn’t get here by buck up or through colonial charity. We are where we are, for better or worse, because of the blood, sweat, tears and years we spent on the backs of our departed and currently living with us ancestors.
We have such a rich tapestry of oral history living amongst us and we take it all for granted for the new flashy easy to come by internet or cable-based ‘history’ as given to us. African tradition behoves us to treat the elderly as living treasures of knowledge and wisdom to not only learn from but to let the young recognize who we were and are as a people. Millennials can’t naturally appreciate what it means to depend on actually seeing someone to communicate with them before the internet and cell phone era. And things we now take for granted didn’t come as easy as they seem to these days, starting with something as simple as the clothes that now floods our streets and stores. Once upon a time, we had to wait on hand-me-downs and the occasional barrel or visitor from overseas to even see a pair of new shoes or ‘trackie’, an item of clothing or Irish Spring soap bar, singular. Then we had to make do with maybe a gift for our birthday and at least one toy at Christmas. But for me, that spirit of innovation we learned through oral and hands on tradition not long ago, that inspired us to make our own toys like milk carton trucks, cotton wheel, gig and bleach bottle airplanes and creatively entertain ourselves with marbles, simple elastic bands (bounce lastic) and just running and catching each other (ketch and ketch or stuckie) – things being replaced by a tide of laziness of thought, apathy and this feeling of entitlement that is devoid of an appreciation of what it takes to earn something, even the smallest of things like that first job. My first proper job was at Lloyd’s Department Store, as a 13-year-old earning J$150 a week. As a 19-year-old doing videography and editing, I earned J$500 for a six-day work week plus the random not normally allowed tips. It took years of hard work in multiple jobs and evening school to get to a point where even thinking about a first car was possible. Translate that to now where somehow the expectation is that by age 21, even without any discernible, marketable talent or expertise in trade or craft, that a car and apartment or house should come standard. While many are still raised with a work ethic to strive hard and do right by others, it seems some of us skipped that lesson, frankly because the teacher, who is in most cases the parent(s), often don’t know any better themselves.
Jamaica, Land We Love
We are as dark as we are bright, with the several hues and innuendos that this suggests. The same spirit that empowers a Bounty Killa to march on stage and literally grab the mic from my hand on Sunday night because he was ready to perform is the same energy that makes global icons like Bob Marley and Usain Bolt, and our very own Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, now an Order of Distinction recipient, so irresistible to most everyone else in the world. Just the mere mention of our name or a hint of our unmistakable accent or glimpse of our style or signature walk announces to the world that we are here, and that this world is the better for having a little gem of a rock so influential in every conceivable field of endeavour. From freedom fighters and revolutionaries, to scientists, educators, creators of literature, cultural architects, and yes, amazing human beings of sport and music, wi likkle but wi tallawah. And love we or hate wi, those of us who live abroad can still attest that as bad as things are, nuh weh nuh betta dan yaad. We are indeed cut from a similar but very different cloth, the good ones. And though we may have lost our way a little, we as a people are resilient and loving at our core and together we will find a way, out of these many one people to bring back our Sweet Jamaica. Happy Birthday Jamaica. Walk good!
When the Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime and Investigation Branch (CTOC) carried out an operation to nab three men allegedly involved in a kidnapping and extortion case, during which they demanded two million dollars for a kidnapped teen, the JCF’s image took a significant tumble when the men turned out to be police officers.
The three constables, attached to the Westmoreland Police Division, remained in custody up to press time, following their arrests on Sunday.
Information reaching the Western Mirror are that about 10 p.m., last Saturday, the accused policemen were carrying out an operation along the Water Works main road in the parish, when they signaled a minibus to stop, following a which a search was conducted.
Further details reveal that during the search, a 15-year-old teen was found to be in possession of an illegal firearm, and was subsequently apprehended by the officers.
According to CTOC, the three policemen held the teen for just about 10 hours, then called his parents, demanding the ransom figure of $2-million for his release.
The three were subsequently held by their colleagues.
A St. James Parish Judge will hand down a verdict September 6 on narcotics peddling charges against security guards Owen Glaze and Andrew Brown, who were taken into custody by the police after they were allegedly held with 66 kilograms of cocaine, which has an estimated value of $264 million.
The drug was allegedly found inside the Guardsman Limited vehicle in which Glaze and Brown were travelling in along the Mt Carey main road in St James, on April 20, 2013.
Attorney-at-law Dionne Meyler, who represents Glaze, is challenging a caution statement that Glaze had signed while in the custody of the police on April 21.
On Wednesday, August 2, when the matter came up before Parish Judge Natalie Hart-Hines, Meyler vigorously cross-examined Detective Byron “Toyan” Miller, who had already given evidence, in relation to the caution statement. Detective Miller, at the time of the incident, was a member of the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force.
The statement in question was signed one day after Glaze and Brown were taken into custody by the police.
Following the cross-examination of Detective Miller on Wednesday, Judge Hart-Hines adjourned the matter until September 6 when she will pronounce her verdict.
The men’s bails were extended to that date.
The euphoria of Emancipation Day was brought to a halt, as the parish of Westmoreland witnessed the mob-style killing of two men.
While most Jamaicans engaged in Emancipation Day activities across the nation, residents of Orange Hill main road, Negril, in Westmoreland, were busy descending upon a man, who remained unidentified up to press time, killing him in the process.
The dead man is believed to be in his late twenties, slim build, is of dark complexion, and is about 165cm (5 feet 5 inches) tall.
Details gleaned from the Savannah-la-Mar Police are that about 12:45 a.m., the man, who was found to be in possession of a motorcycle he could not account for, was approached by irate residents. Further details reveal that the angered residents allegedly set upon him, using machetes and stones to inflict wounds to the body of the victim. The Police were subsequently alerted, and the beaten man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Upon queries, Investigators disclosed to the Western Mirror that just two weeks ago, the motorcycle, which was found in the possession of the now deceased man, was reported stolen from the Orange Hill community.
That incident proved not to be the last that would mar the day’s celebrations, as inside the community of Mango Hall, Little London, still in the parish of Westmoreland, another mob exercised its brand of justice, claiming victim number two of the day.
A man, who purportedly posed as a collections agent of the Jamaican Public Service Company, was held, beaten, and chopped to death by an angry mob in that community, mere hours after the first mobbing.
Reports reaching this newsroom are that on the day in question, three men made their way through the community of Mango Hall, Little London, brandishing fake ID’s, claiming that they were collections agents of the lone power provider in the island. It is alleged that under that guise, the men were allegedly able to fleece funds from some three homes in the community, before their luck apparently ran out.
It was revealed to the Western Mirror that one of the affected residents became suspicious, and alerted others, who then confronted the men. When accosted, two of the men reportedly fled from the mob leaving the third to the wrath of the residents.
In that incident, the unidentified man reportedly had a hand and a foot cut off. It was also reported that the man fell, following which a stone was dropped on his head, allegedly killing him on the spot
Dushane Allen, one of Westmoreland's Most Wanted, responsible for over three murders.
With the barrels of their guns barely even cooled from their last deadly encounter with one of the parish’s Most Wanted, the Westmoreland Police are determined to continue purging the once peaceful parish. After taking down Sadan ‘Sadam’ Mullings, who was allegedly responsible for over 20 murders in the parish, the police have their sights set on an armed and extremely dangerous lot, as they released the details of these individuals last Monday at a press conference.
Kemroy Oshane Clarke, otherwise called ‘Max’. Clarke is known to take refuge in a number of areas including Golden Grove, Hanover, Hooger Lane, Gulf, Norwood, Montego Bay, St. James, and Haddo, Westmoreland.The 5 ft. 6 inches tall Clarke is of dark complexion, medium build, and sports a cornrow hairstyle. He is wanted for the murder of Kavana Morgan, committed on February 24, 2017, at Marshall Road, Haddo district, Whithorn, Westmoreland.
The wanted Clarke has been seen in the Haddo, McField areas, in Whithorn, Golden Grove, Hanover and Gulf, Norwood, St. James.
32-year-old Steve Vassell, otherwise called ‘Buss Mi Strength’, of Shortwood Road, Kingston 8, follows on the list. Vassell, who is of dark complexion, slim build, and is about 5 ft. 8 inches tall, is wanted for murder committed on April 23, 2014, at Roaring River, Westmoreland. He frequents Roaring River, Westmoreland, Shortwood Road, Kingston areas, as well as John’s Hall, St. James.
48-year-old Burton Shearer, otherwise called ‘Bap’, of Church Lincoln district, Grange Hill, Westmoreland, is next. He is of dark complexion, slim build, and is about 5 ft. 11 inches tall. ‘Bap’ is wanted for the murder of Fabian Cooper, a resident of Church, Lincoln district, Grange Hill, Westmoreland, which was committed on May 12, 2016. Following further police work, Shearer was also revealed to be a person of interest in the murder of Evan Williams, also of a Westmoreland address. Shearer’s offences do not stop there, as he has made a potent death threat on a parish judge – one the police will not be taking lightly until he is captured or put down.
Jermaine Gordon, another armed and dangerous character, is next on the Most Wanted list.Otherwise called ‘Dangles’ or ‘Ding Dong’, of Burnt Savannah, Westmoreland, and Mount Salem, Montego Bay, St. James, Gordon is wanted for murder and wounding with intent committed at Red Hills, Frome, Westmoreland. A known member of the Tony Reid Gang, Gordon is of dark complexion, slim build and is about 6 ft. tall. He frequents the Grange Hill Prospect District and Burnt Savannah areas in Westmoreland.
Completing the parish’s Most Wanted list is 22 years old Ashwayne Campbell, also known as Cappy, of Fletchers Hill, Lennox, Bigwoods, Darliston, all communities in the parish. He is of brown complexion, medium build, and is wanted for the murder of Donville Cummings, committed on November 28, 2015, at Fletchers Hill, Westmoreland.
Next on this list is 34-year-old Glenroy Roach, also known as ‘Eye’, of First Avenue, Vineyard Town, Kingston and Negril, Westmoreland, a dark complexion, slim built character, whose eyes are cast inwards. He is wanted for a murder committed on August 10, 2015 in Negril, and is known to frequent West End, Negril, Kew District, and Elgin Town in Hanover.
The dreadlocks-sporting 29-year-old Obrian Ellis, otherwise called ‘Joe Grine’, of Phase 6 Llandilo Housing Scheme, Sav-la-Mar, Westmoreland, caught the attention of the police when he committed a murder on December 8, 2016, in Farm Pen in the parish. The near 6 ft. tall Ellis is of dark complexion, medium build, and is a known member of the Ambition Crew. He is known to frequent Llandilo, Three Miles River and Montego Bay, St. James.
28-year-old Olando Jarrett, otherwise called Andre Jarrett, of Red Ground, Westmoreland, and 18 Ricketts Street, Savanna-la-Mar, is wanted for house break-in and receiving stolen property. The low haircut-wearing Jarret is 5 ft. 10 inches tall, and is described as having a deformed stomach area.He has been known to frequent White Hall, Red Ground, Negril, Ricketts Street and Savanna-la-Mar.
23-year-old Dushane Allen, otherwise called Nigel, of Greenwich, Bethel Town, Westmoreland. The 5 ft. 10 inches tall hoodlum, who is a known member of the Venomous Vipers Gang, is of dark complexion, slim build, and sports a tattoo of a circle on the back of his left palm, as well as on both shoulders. Further details revealed by the police describe Allen as having a broad face and unkempt hair. The youngster is wanted for the murders of Stephen Hibbert, Omar Gordon and Trevon Lewis, all of Westmoreland addresses.He is known to frequent Greenwich, York, Bethel Town, Catadupa, Ducketts and Cambridge, St. James.25-year-old Dwayne Clarke, otherwise called ‘Buju’, of Coffee Walk, Delveland and Little London, Westmoreland, escaped police custody, but remains wanted for murder he committed on March 12, 2009. Clarke, who is a member of the Alma Gang, is of dark complexion with a straight face, thin lips black hair, straight and small nose, with a round head.
As the police intensify attempts to regain control of the parish – which has already passed the 70-mark for persons killed since the start of the year, the men identified are being asked to peacefully turn in themselves, lest they be subject to lethal force by the lawmen.
As for the murders already committed, Superintendent of Police in charge of Westmoreland, Egbert Parkins, attributes this spike to gang-related activities, which they are actively trying to curb.
He says 16 gangs are operating in the parish and are being financed through lottery scamming, drug dealings and contract killings.
The police have yet to make a breakthrough in the shooting death of 29-year-old paraplegic, Oberie Forrester of Wellington Street, Falmouth, Trelawny.
The wheelchair bound Forrester, also known as ‘Johnathan’ and ‘John Hype’, was killed about 1:50 last Friday morning by unknown assailants who attacked him at the intersection of Pitt and Duke Streets in the town.
According to police reports, Forrester was in the process of returning home, being assisted by a female companion who was pushing the chair, when explosions were heard. The police were called and on their arrival, he was found suffering from gunshot wounds.
The police relate that no motive has been established for the fatal shooting.
This is the third time that Forrester has been shot, with the first incident said to have placed him in the wheelchair. However, as fate would have it, he was not so fortunate as the first two encounters.
Information suggests that while he was shot at the intersection of Pitt and Duke Streets, he managed to get a few meters to Victoria Street where he collapsed out of the wheelchair into the street.
“This Friday [today] should have been our honeymoon – I told him to let me come… I told him to let me come with him, but he said no, and that he would be back. But now, I’m so lost.” These were the words of a tearful Trishaula Morrison, the wife of Constable Junior Morrison, as she related to the Western Mirror how she came to know that the love of her life had died, after just two months into their marriage.
“We’ve been ‘together’ since we were eight years old,” Mrs. Morrison remembers as she managed a chuckle, citing that somehow, she had always known that Constable Morrison, a past student of Cornwall College, would be a part of her life. Having both grown up as neighbours in Sandy Bay, Hanover, the two shared a bond that many family members and friends suspected would have blossomed into the love it did.
“He was the kind of young man you wouldn’t be skeptical of,” Mr. Horaldo Anderson, father of Mrs. Morrison, related. “He was one of those son-in-laws that grabbed your attention immediately; he was fun-loving, and was totally committed to Christ, and would always try to crack a joke – that’s the kind of person he was,” Anderson added.
Mrs. Morrison, who relates to the Western Mirror that she hasn’t eaten since her husband died on Tuesday, explained that even while growing up as teenagers, their relationship was one that all knew and approved of. “Even in the mornings before he went to school,” Mrs. Morrison remembers fondly, “I would cook him breakfast.” Morrison went on to explain that whenever her husband, Junior, who was a formidable goalkeeper for Cornwall College’s da’Costa Cup team, between 2009 and 2011, had a match, she would cheer for him, despite being a student of Rusea’s High School, one of Cornwall College’s old rivals in the schoolboy league. “I would always cheer for him. And in the evenings, because his house was close to mine, whenever he would go home in the evenings,” she explained, “he would stop for dinner.”
The two maintained a relationship, way beyond their school years, which eventually brought them a daughter.
TRAGEDY STRUCK
When the two got married on May 21 earlier this year, they had a life of dreams and goals planned out before them – a life they imagined they would always make the best of, as long as they had each other. But on July 25, tragedy struck.
“He agreed to get gas for the car so he could loan it to one of my cousins for a trip he had to make out of town, so I told him I wanted to come with him,” Mrs. Morrison relayed. “However, he assured me he would be okay, and that he would be back, and that I didn’t have to come.” Mrs. Morrison further explained that he gave her some money, and told her to go get her hair done so that they could kick off their honeymoon the right way – just a few days away.
He, however, would not return.
According to reports, Morrison was driving along the Lilliput main road, and as he headed towards Montego Bay,the driver of a black BMW, who was travelling in the opposite direction, failed to indicate that that he was making a turn, which resulted in a collision. Constable Morrison, who was being accompanied by his cousin, who was also injured in the accident, was rushed to the Falmouth Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to Mrs. Morrison, she was in Montego Bay at the time, waiting to hear from her husband, but never did.
“I tried calling him, but I didn’t get a response. That was very unlike him,” she added, explaining that he would usually pull over if he was driving to answer her calls. “When I didn’t hear from him, I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t even get my cousin when I tried calling him.”
DREADED PHONE CALL
Mrs. Morrison later received a phone call from her cousin, who told her they were involved in a car crash. “I thought he was joking, so I told him not to play with me, and hung up the phone.” But after realizing that he may have been telling the truth, she called him back. “Are you serious?” she remembers asking. “Yes,” she remembers hearing.
“After going home to pack clothes for him, and my daughter, I remember passing a group of police and soldiers at the crash scene, and I thought that they were just protecting his car from looting,” Morrison said, as she made her way to her husband.
What Morrison later learnt, however, was that the body of her husband was still in the car when she passed it.
“We were supposed to have a life together. We moved to Kingston, and started things there – our own family, but now, I honestly don’t know what to do. I really don’t,” Morrison lamented.
Their daughter, who will turn three years old later this year, still feels that her daddy is at work.
“Whenever someone asks her where daddy is, she says he is at work, and that he’ll soon be home. She’s still waiting for him. She’s still waiting for him,” expressed a remorseful Anderson, Trishaula’s father.
Despite the support being received from friends and family, as well as members of the Sandy Bay Police Station, Morrison is still reeling from the loss of her best friend, and is finding it hard to imagine her life without him.
Eyewitness accounts of the death of Westmoreland’s Most Wanted
The 96 rounds of ammunition, an UZI Sub-Machine gun, and a Glock pistol, are all that remain of the murderous life of Sadan ‘Sadam’ Mullings, the 25-year-old who, with just five more murders, would have averaged one person killed for every year he had been alive.
He was killed on Saturday, July 22, after he brazenly challenged the police in the now relieved community of Whitehouse, Westmoreland.
In details released by the CCU, it was revealed that Mullings, who was wanted for up to 20 murders all over Western Jamaica, fired several shots into a Police Service Vehicle during what many are describing as an intense gun battle with the Police. During that incident, several alleged eyewitnesses who spoke to the Western Mirror, revealed that the standoff between Mullings and the police saw “… close to 500 bullets being fired.” And, though Mullings managed to have a bullet lodged in the vest of one of the officers, he would not survive the concerted efforts of law enforcement and sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
He died on the spot.
When the Western Mirror visited the community, several individuals claiming to be eyewitnesses, amidst their celebrations, did not hold back in expressing their account of the incident, as well as their joy that Mullings was finally removed.
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS
“Mi seh a bout 500 gunshots dem buss mi boss,” one resident said. “When mi look, mi see a yute run from round di beach, and run off. A up a di square dem kill him sah,” he added. The resident further revealed to the Western Mirror that with Mullings being their parish’s Most Wanted, he was excited to know that he would no longer be able to wreak havoc in the lives of members of the usually peaceful seaside community. “We are fishermen, that’s the kind of people we are, we do not like criminals. Most days after finishing work, sometimes after 3 in the morning, we have to be unusually careful for fear that some of these criminals will rob us. To know that the Police took him down, we are happy,” he related.
Though most residents are happy that the threat of Mullings has been removed, many expressed to the Western Mirror that despite the progress, work was clearly not done.
“I feel very good about it man, very good,” another resident expressed. “But we want to continue to keep the community clean. We are happy the Police were able to accomplish this,” he relayed. He went on to explain that community members have generally done a good job of keeping the community’s relatively crime-free image intact, and sent a message to other members to keep up the work they have been doing. “I wanna tell all a di people dem fi just keep calm and keep the corruption outa the community, you know? It’s going good already, we just need to keep it up.”
One man, who was very vocal in his support of the actions of the Police, had this to say: “Dem fi dead man, dem fi dead. A so dem love run weh come a we place when things get hot,” he explained, citing that his only regret was that more of his [Mullings] cronies were not with him at the time, so they could have been cut down too. “All a dem fi dead. I love it,” he reasoned.
One woman, who was visibly ecstatic at the news, could not contain her joy as she spoke to the Western Mirror. Through excitement and laughter, the woman, who claims to have been in the area when the police confronted Mullings, gave her account of things: “Yes man, I was here when it started but as soon as the bullets rang out, mi neva stick around. I was running and shouting because I wasn’t sure what was happening.” She expressed, however, that after moving to safety and learning what caused the ruckus, she couldn’t be happier that it happened. “We don’t tolerate criminals here, so anytime dem dead, the others should know that that is what will happen if they come here.”
The list of individuals who flocked to the Western Mirror claiming to be eyewitnesses seemed to be without end, but one resident in particular felt that for a time, he thought the police were after him, and also revealed that earlier that day, he saw and interacted with Mullings.
“When mi see the police dem a come, mi swear seh a mi dem did a come after, so mi hurry up and hide the spliff [weed] mi did a smoke,” he explained, “only fi see dem run pass mi and a go after di yute.” He further revealed that earlier that day, he had seen Mullings sitting on the beach and had greeted him, not knowing who he was. “To how di man look, if him did ask mi fi 50 dollars, mi woulda give him. He looked like a simple yute, but it’s good to know he was caught.”
In an incident during which the Police were attacked with a hand grenade earlier this year, investigations would later pinpoint Mullings as being responsible for that attack.
With this most recent success, the Westmoreland Police are energized and are continuing their search for the other Wanted Men who have taken refuge in the parish, and are responsible for some 77 murders.
Even with the anticipated introduction of the Zones of Special Operations, ZOSO, hoodlums continue to spread fear in the blood-stained St. James with a reported twelve persons shot, seven fatally, over a four-day period, Friday through to Monday.
The murdered have been named as 16-year-old Tajay Haughton, a man known only as ‘Kevin’, 29-year-old Ranique Nash, a farmer of Orange District, 22-year-old Kemar Lewis, labourer of Garden Crescent, Granville, 24-year-old Tavon Davis of Providence, Flanker, 24-year-old Dwayne Russell, a labourer also of Flanker as well as an unidentified man.
SALT SPRING SHOOTINGS
In the most recent incident, Haughton and ‘Kevin’ were gunned down in the volatile Salt Spring community, while three other persons, including a female, remain hospitalized.
The deadly shooting occurred shortly after 3:40 p.m. on Monday afternoon.
According the Montego Hills Police, the men and woman were at a popular area in the community when a group of men, armed with high-powered weapons, AK-47’s and M-16’s, opened gunfire at the group.
The five were shot. ‘Kevin’ died on the spot, while Haughton succumbed to his injuries at hospital. The other three were admitted.
Head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s, JCF, Corporate Communications Unit, Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, says the security forces have increased their presence in the community since the incident.
Lindsay also declared that investigations are ongoing to determine the motive for the attack.
In Granville, detectives say they are probing the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of Kemar Lewis on Gunns Drive on Monday.
The Police report that just after 10 in the morning, Lewis was doing construction work when he was pounced upon by unknown assailant/s who opened gunfire, hitting him several times.
The Police were alerted and he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The mayhem began at the start of the weekend with Davis of a Flanker address killed along a section of Hart Street in Montego Bay.
About 9:40 p.m., Davis and another man were walking along the roadway when armed men approached and opened gunfire, hitting them. The Police were summoned and Davis was seen with gunshot wounds to the neck and head.
The other man managed to flee the scene and was assisted to the hospital by citizens where he was admitted in serious condition.
Information gleaned is that Davis, who was a regular visitor to the area, had been embroiled in a heated argument with another man before he was gunned down.
ORANGE MURDER
In the meantime, a man is reportedly in the custody of the police following Friday night’s murder of 29 year-old farmer Ranique Nash, otherwise called ‘Ikkaey’ in Tank Hill District, Sign Orange.
According to police reports, about 10:22 P.M., police responded to explosions heard in the area. On their arrival, Nash, who would have turned 30 next month, was found in the passenger side of his motor car with gunshot wounds.
He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
His grief-stricken mother told the Western Mirror that her late son was at home reprimanding his younger brother when he received a phone call and left. It is further understood that mere seconds after he left the house, explosions were heard.
Peggy Graham recanted that after hearing the gunshots, they ran out of the house towards the lane where Nash had been, but were forced back into the house by gunshots which came their way.
She said the family also heard sounds of a vehicle leaving the scene.
She further revealed that after a brief wait, they went out and found Nash slumped down across the passenger side of his Toyota motorcar with gunshot wounds.
The mother said her son’s licensed firearm and an undisclosed sum of money and his wallet were also taken.
Peggy said her son leaves behind a 2 year-old son.
Elsewhere, Russell, of Flanker, was shot and killed and another man shot and injured by unknown assailant/s in Coral Gardens, St. James, on Saturday, July 22.
Reports obtained from the Coral Gardens Police are that about 12:35 p.m., police responded to explosions in the area. Upon their arrival, Russell and the other man were found with several gunshot wounds. They were taken to hospital where Russell succumbed to his injuries, and the other man was admitted in stable condition.
MURDER IN MOUNT SALEM
Meanwhile, the Mount Salem Police are investigating the death of an unidentified man, whose body was found in the upscale West Gate Hills community on Saturday, July 22.
The body was cladded in a white T-shirt and blue jeans.
Reports are that about 6:38 a.m., a resident found the body on a dirt track with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.
The Police were alerted, the crime scene was processed and the body removed to the morgue.
