Umbrella Gang hit hard by killing, conviction
Published:Sunday | March 3, 2019 | 12:00 AMAinsley Walters - Gleaner Writer
Portmore’s notorious Umbrella Gang was hit hard by the justice system and crime-fighters within hours last Wednesday with the conviction and fatal shooting of two key members.
First, the St Catherine South police have since identified a man fatally shot on Wednesday during a standoff at a hotel along the red-light district of ‘Back Road’, Port Henderson Road, St Catherine, as ‘Short Man’ of the infamous Umbrella Gang.
‘Short Man’ has been fingered as having been a henchman for the gang, demanding extortion money from prostitutes, which, if not paid, would have resulted in savagery such as knife slashes to their faces.
Reports are that about 12:30 p.m., a police team from the St Catherine South Division confronted ‘Short Man’, who was killed during a shoot-out.
A revolver was seized during the incident in which a policeman from the St Catherine South Special Operations unit was also shot, sustaining a throat wound, for which he was treated at Spanish Town hospital.
Hours later, alleged Umbrella Gang member Kevin ‘Hindu’ Gooden was convicted in the Corporate Area Gun Court for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, offences committed on February 22, 2018.
Considered a high-ranking member of the Newlands-based Umbrella Gang, Gooden is also before the court for a shooting incident committed in October 2017, for which he is jointly charged with Bobby Warren.
Evidence was given by Detective Sergeant Cammendo Thoms and investigating officer Jason McKay, marshalled by Crown Counsel Yanik Henry, before High Court Judge Vinette Harris.
The Umbrella Gang, reportedly run from behind bars by a convicted don, ranks alongside Waterford’s Gaza Gang as Portmore’s most notorious and is said to be linked to more than 40 murders in the Sunshine City.