ST. CATHERINE, Jamaica – Eight people were murdered on the weekend in separate incidents in the Corporate Area and St. Catherine, pushing the country’s homicide count to 845.
Last week, at least 32 persons were killed, taking this month’s tally to 115.
Four of the weekend killings took place in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, where the bodies of two of the men, Patrick Daley, 21, and Steve Gordon, 20, both of Twickenham Park addresses, were discovered about 6:30 a.m., lying near a train line in Duncans Pen, with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Jamaica Gleaner.
Head of the St. Catherine North Criminal Investigation Bureau, Acting Deputy Superintendent Meveral Smith, said that based on information, it is believed the men left their home to purchase film, but were killed before returning home.
Other victims killed on the weekend were Linval McCarty, a 33-year-old shopkeeper of Martin Street, who was gunned down shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Saturday near the intersection of Manchester and Hanover streets and in Waterford, St. Catherine, Gunmen struck on Saturday night, killing Mark Harrison, 24, of western Trelawny. The police were summoned to the scene by residents who reported hearing gunshot wounds shortly after 8:00 p.m.
The east Kingston police also reported that a 24-year-old man was shot and killed in the Somerset area of Franklyn Town on Saturday. He has been identified as Kevin Peart, alias ‘Bling Dawg’, of a McIntyre Villa address.
Also on Saturday, the police said a decomposed body was found on a playing field at the Mona campus in St. Andrew. The police were called in following reports by residents of a foul odour coming from the direction of the playing field.
Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas has attributed the jump in the country’s homicide rate in part to an increase in violence throughout rural parishes, especially in St. James where, at least, 80 persons have been killed so far. The information was disclosed by the Commissioner on Saturday, while attending a meeting at the Montego Bay Civic Centre, St. James.
Meanwhile in a different scenario Sunday, two men were shot and injured during an alleged shoot-out with the police in Rose Town, West Kingston. The police later reported the seizure of a brand new AK-47 rifle.
The police report has been disputed by residents. Gloria Lewis, who was among scores of protesters claimed that the police drove on to Tewari Crescent and began firing indiscriminately. One woman showed a member of The Gleaner news team a juice box filled with M-16 spent shells, which she claimed were fired by the police.
“The police are doing this at a time when we are trying to rebuild our community,” said Miss Lewis.
She claimed their community has been peaceful for five years.
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