Deadly attacks on gangsters’ relatives
Two women killed in less than 24 hrs
Published:Tuesday | July 4, 2023 | 1:20 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
The St Andrew South police are maintaining a strong presence in the Bow Tie Land community, located off Spanish Town Road, after what appears to be a series of deadly attacks on relatives of gangsters.
The tit-for-tat murders and shootings, which reportedly began last week, culminated in two women being killed in less than 24 hours, the latest occurring yesterday.
A mother of four, the deceased has since been identified as Stephanie Boland.
She is also a hairdresser, according to reports.
Though the killing on Monday took place on Delamere Avenue, investigators say preliminary information connects the incident with Sunday’s double murder in the Bow Tie Land community.
Police theorised that the woman was trailed to the location.
Yesterday gunmen shot and killed Boland as she went to collect her three-year-old child from school.
“You see the people dem weh dead Sunday, dem shouldn’t dead. I’m not saying anyone should die but the community feel it for them dem because dem never deserve it. That happen and see it she now. Everybody have to look out and some a move out,” a male resident said.
Superintedent Damian Manderson, acting commander of St Andrew South Police Division, said the police intelligence suggests the family members of suspects in the killings are targeted.
Boland is believed to be the relative of a suspect in the double murder.
On Sunday, 20-year-old Shakira Thomas and 21-year-old Tyler Taylor, a tiler, both of Bow Tie Land, were shot and killed.
Reports from the Hunts Bay Police are that Taylor and Thomas were at home when armed men entered and opened gunfire, hitting the two multiple times.
They were rushed to hospital where they were pronounced dead.
WOMEN UNDER ATTACK
The Gleaner understands that several shootings have been reported in the space with women predominantly being the victims.
“The women are under attack in St Andrew South ... . The people in the space are at odds and, when they can’t get to who they really want, they turn on family, relatives. Women and children are the most vulnerable,” an investigator told The Gleaner.
Boland and her family were reportedly among those who moved out or took steps to relocate from of the community after Sunday’s murder and shooting.
The Gleaner has gathered that about three women have been killed in the feud linked to the latest flareup.
The women are cowering in fear and the area was empty as the news team roved on Monday.
According to police, they have picked up one man for questioning in relation to the violence.
The St Andrew South Police Division recorded a nine per cent decline in murders up to June 30.
Since the start of the year, 58 people have been killed in the division, compared to 64 for the corresponding period in 2022.
The national murder toll was up to yesterday 655.