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MoBay gangster in viral robbery videos killed

Published:Tuesday | October 15, 2019 | 12:18 AMAdrian Frater/News Editor

Western Bureau:

A gangster who figured in several daring daylight robberies in St James, some of which were captured on security cameras and have gone viral online, was shot and killed on Sunday night after he allegedly engaged a police-military team in a shootout.

The dead man has been identified as 30-year-old Roger Danville, who was popularly known as ‘Rasta’. He is believed to be originally from Norwood but frequented several communities across western parishes, where it is said that he had many criminal connections.

“After viewing some of the videos in which he featured in robberies, our intelligence team began working on tracking him down,” said Superintendent Vernon Ellis, the commanding officer for St James. “Intelligence information led us to where he was on Sunday night, and when he was cornered, he engaged the security team in a shootout and was tactically dealt with.”

When the gunfire subsided about 10:45 p.m. in the Bottom Pen community in the parish on Sunday, Danville was found dead, allegedly clutching an Uzi submachine gun.

It is believed that other persons who were at the location fled amid the heavy exchange of gunfire.

Prior to Sunday night’s incident, another gangster who also featured in some of the robberies recorded by surveillance cameras was captured in a police operation on Saturday night. He was reportedly held with a loaded 9mm pistol.

“In addition to taking these two men out of circulation, it was basically a satisfying week for the police, as we seized a total of five illegal firearms during operations across the parish,” said Ellis. “While the 113 murders we have had since the start of the year is 113 too many, we remain undaunted in our effort to remove criminals from the streets.”

Ellis said that despite the increase in murders this year, the men and women under his command have been reaping some success.

“Since the start of the year, we have seized a total of 85 illegal firearms and some 4,600 rounds of ammunition from criminals,” he said. “I personally want to congratulate the officers who are working around the clock to ensure that, ultimately, we will have safe communities.”

Since the start of the year, armed gangsters have figured in numerous multimillion-dollar robberies in all five western parishes, especially St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and St James. The police believe the acts are being carried out by the same group of men.

“We are currently strengthening our operational capacity so the public can look for even better results going forward,” Ellis said.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com