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St James gang war spreads to Florida

Published:Friday | November 4, 2022 | 12:07 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Jahreme ‘JMan’ Shelton (left) and Andre Whittaker, better known as ‘Squash’.
Jahreme ‘JMan’ Shelton (left) and Andre Whittaker, better known as ‘Squash’.
Jeff ‘FordLawd’ Murray.
Jeff ‘FordLawd’ Murray.
Dwayne ‘Muscle Man’ Francis.
Dwayne ‘Muscle Man’ Francis.
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Gang warfare originating in Salt Spring, St James, is believed to have crossed borders and created mayhem in Lauderhill, Florida, with law enforcers there determined to clamp down on the crime syndicates.

Jamaican dancehall stakeholders are reportedly enmeshed in the unfolding saga.

A double murder on October 19 in the Sunshine State, the latest in a string of multiple killings associated with the gang war, has resulted in the arrest of producer 26-year-old Jahreme 'JMan' Shelton.

The men he is accused of killing have been identified as Dwayne 'Muscle Man' Francis, a hired killer, according to court records, and Jeff 'FordLawd' Murray, an upcoming artiste, both known figures in the state of Florida.

Shelton is reputedly affiliated with the infamous Buss Head Gang, which investigators say is sympathetic towards dancehall artiste Andre Whittaker, more popularly known as Squash.

Gangs originating in St James are reportedly in a feud with another intra-parish gang, the Waltham Bad Breed, whose reputed leader is also on US soil.

US authorities believe the alleged gangsters travelled to America by boat or by crossing its southern border with Mexico.

Shelton, as well as alleged members of the Buss Head Gang, left Jamaica in the summer and have featured in music videos and Instagram posts of Squash, who has also been in Florida for some time.

On May 26, Shelton was one of two persons who survived a drive-by shooting in Jamaica at a birthday party along Marl Road in the community.

Three others, including his girlfriend Toniann Reid, aka 'Too Fly', of Jarrett Terrace, died.

The others killed were 27-year-old Chadwell Fraser, otherwise known as 'Bomb Brain', or 'Chad', of Felicity Road, Glendevon, and Chamario 'Chippy' Calvin, 24, of Ball Ground, Rose Heights, in St James.

Music producer Linval Thompson Jr, popularly known as 'Shab Don', and 22-year-old Tajay Clarke, otherwise called 'Fat Head', of Salt Spring in St James, have been charged in relation to the incident.

Florida court documents allege that the bloodletting in the US state escalated over a reported shooting on August 3 at a club called The Garden 411 in Lauderdale Lakes.

According to the documents, the Buss Head syndicate and associates challenged the Waltham Bad Breed Gang, which they believed was behind the attack.

Court records say the players are wanted for murder in Jamaica.

Francis was reportedly blamed for the Lauderdale Lakes shooting, which triggered the attack on October 19 in Lauderhill where he and Murray were killed.

Investigators linked Shelton to the double murder, allegedly matching his blood to three samples retrieved from the crime scene.

He was held and charged on October 25 after forensic and video evidence, as well as Instagram posts from his JManMuzik account, allegedly placed him at the crime scene.

There are two possible penalties for first-degree murder in Florida: the death penalty and life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Shortly after the October double killing, a voice note went viral of threats against the life of Squash, forbidding any promoter from booking him on shows.

That prompted the entertainer to post a video, albeit before the Florida investigations became public, dispelling the allegations of his gang involvement and assuring his fans and family that he was well and “fully active”.

Superintendent of Police Eron Samuels, who heads the operations portfolio in the St James Police Division, told The Gleaner that the police are monitoring the developments in the US.

“We do believe that there will be implications on local soil. We have increased our policing activities in the areas we believe may be impacted,” Samuels said.

The police say the ongoing triple murder and shooting matter locally involving Thompson Jr and Clarke will proceed, citing “nothing has changed” in that regard.

“We believe the key persons are behind bars,” DSP Samuels said.

The cop theorised that the dancehall stakeholders in crime is finally catching up with the public.

“The public is realising what we have been dealing with where criminals hide behind the popularity of the music while committing these serious and violent crimes,” Samuels said.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com