Cops move to stop reprisals after late don’s brother killed

Every October 15 for the past eight years, Donharley Harley would host a memorial fish fry on his late father’s birthday.

But last Saturday, as the 36-year-old prepared to host the event near his family home on Willow Drive in Cockburn Gardens, he was gunned down by attackers.

“True is a fish fry, maybe him think dem is a customer, so him just walk come out, and dem start shoot him,” a relative, who requested anonymity because of security fears, told The Gleaner on Tuesday.

The relative said that Harley was rushed to hospital where he died. No one else was injured in the shooting.

Harley was the brother of alleged strongman Valbert Harley, otherwise called Waldie, who was killed five years ago while on his way home from court where he was answering a murder charge.

Waldie was described by police and others close to the underworld as the ‘don of all dons’, as he claimed control of Kingston and St Andrew.

Senior Superintendent Kirk Ricketts, the commanding officer for St Andrew South Division, said the police are currently investigating the killing of the younger brother, which they believe to be gang related.

In the meantime, he said the police have increased their presence in Cockburn Gardens to deter counterattacks.

“We believe that there will be attempts for reprisals and counter-reprisals, so we’re trying our best to prevent those. The person who was killed is known to be associated with the Mahoe Drive group,” he said.

Donharley’s relative, however, said she is at a loss as to why the father of five would have been targeted.

“Da tag deh neva deh pon him. Dat neva pin pon him at all,” the relative said, countering allegations that Donharley was a criminal don.

“He was well known because of his brother [Waldie]. If him was the don fi di community, him wouldn’t left himself careless fi people come on fi just attack him. Him just deh dere as a normal man a do him fish fry a try fi make him own bread,” the relative added.

The family member said that the community was still reeling from his killing, as the well-known community figure had celebrated his birthday two days earlier.

“Everybody in shock. ... Everybody a help him cook. Who nah clean up fish a clean up chicken. Everybody a try fi do something ‘cause that’s how we live as one. So when we see that happen now, everybody just shake up, everybody just shock and draw inna dem shell, the relative said.

Residents of the community who spoke with The Gleaner also denied claims that Harley was an area don.

“A just him bredda [Waldie] was the don. Him never a nuh don. Him was more a jovial person,” a resident, who withheld his name, said.

One resident noted how quiet the community had become, with only a few people outside as police cars were seen patrolling the area.

“The place deadish now, ‘cause most a di time you woulda see some likkle bwoy, bwoy a walk up pon di road,” he said.

“Drive-by can’t go on, suh everybody a go in,” another resident chimed in.

The St Andrew South Police Division has recorded 115 murders this year, 17 fewer compared to the corresponding period in 2021.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com