Triple murder rattles Brooks Level Road in Stony Hill

Three men were savagely slain by gunmen on Wednesday at a house located off Brooks Level Road in Stony Hill, an area that has recorded five murders in less than a month.

The trio were killed with high-powered weapons about 11:45 a.m.

The deceased have been identified as 20-year-old Brandon ‘Gussy’ Scarlett and Adeaijah ‘Addi’ Lawes, 17. The third man was unidentified up to press time.

The police say Lawes was on bail for illegal possession of firearm.

Scarlett’s grandfather, Lloyd Brown, said he was sleeping when Scarlett was called out before explosions rattled the north St Andrew community.

The police theorise that Wednesday’s killing may be a reprisal for Monday’s slaying of 57-year-old Dave ‘Baita’ Nooks.

Nooks was killed similarly in broad daylight while drinking at a bar on Brooks Level Road.

“The deceased on Monday is an uncle of one of the players in a gang conflict involving two rival factions, the Nooks and the Dennies, that originate from the communities of Brooks Level and Airy Castle Road,” Senior Superintendent of Police Aaron Fletcher told The Gleaner.

The police say the men may have been targeted because they were believed to have been involved in the killing of Nooks.

“The men killed today (Wednesday) are believed to be aligned to the Dennie faction,” Fletcher said.

Residents and business interests have expressed fear as they believe there is no end in sight to the spiralling violence.

Fletcher is encouraging persons who have information about the killings to share it with the police.

A high-level probe has been launched into the murders.

The St Andrew North Police Division has experienced a 24 per cent and 31 per cent reduction in murders and shootings, respectively.

As at August 4, the division recorded 34 murders, 11 fewer than during the corresponding period in 2020.

Shootings fell from 48 to 33 for the period under review.