Clarendon continues to bleed Four killed in less than 42 hours

After recording 168 murders last year, the second-highest murder total in the 19 police divisions, Clarendon has recorded a bloody start to 2018.

Three days into 2018, The Gleaner has already confirmed four murders in the central Jamaica parish.

The victims include 39-year-old taxi driver Orlando Beckford of the Glenmuir Housing Scheme, who was shot and killed by unknown assailants at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Police sources say that Beckford was operating his taxi from Hayes to May Pen when he stopped to let off a passenger in the vicinity of Girls Town. He was pounced on by armed men, who opened fire, hitting him.

Beckford managed to drive close to the Hayes Police Station and was assisted to the Lionel Town Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Fifteen minutes later in Rocky Point, barber Fitzroy Paul Joseph was shot and killed by unknown attackers.

According to reports, Joseph was at a friend's house when gunmen kicked open the door and fired several shots, hitting him in the upper body.

 

TEEN KILLED

 

Another murder victim has been identified as 17-year-old Odane Baker, otherwise called 'Omari', of Rhules Pen, who was also shot and killed by gunmen.

Reports are that at about 1:15 p.m., residents heard several loud explosions and called the police.

Baker's body was found with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the face and upper section of his body along a dirt track. He was taken to the May Pen Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The fourth victim was killed early yesterday morning in York Town.

He has been identified as Franklin Morgan, who hails from the area but who migrated to the United States years ago. Morgan was recently deported back to Jamaica.

He was shot by an unknown attacker while riding a bicycle in the community.

 

JA's WORST KILLING FIELDS OF 2017

 

- St James - 335

24 per cent increase

- Clarendon - 168

24 per cent increase

- St Andrew South - 159

72 per cent increase

- Westmoreland - 147

28 per cent increase

- St Catherine North - 134

8 per cent reduction