‘Is a next set a terrorist dem a create’
Residents claim alleged gang leader was unarmed when fatally shot by cops
Published:Saturday | December 2, 2023 | 12:11 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Residents of Sunlight Street in Kingston 13 are fearful that Friday’s fatal shooting of an alleged gang leader by the security forces could breed a generation of vipers.
The police say they shot 27-year-old Nackeem ‘Jack A Diamond’ Mullings in self-defence.
However, residents, who spoke with The Gleaner on condition of anonymity out of fear, said that Mullings, who is known to the police, was unarmed at the time of the shooting. He was reportedly returning home from a party with friends.
“Di man declare himself and dem kill him. Better him did just keep quiet and go in wid dem ‘cause him clean. Dem nuh tek nothing off a him … . Weh di youth dem fi do when dem see police kill man innocently? Di youth dem a go build hatred towards who fi serve and protect. Is a next set a terrorist dem a create,” the resident said.
A policeman close to the probe told The Gleaner that they believe a wanted person was in the company of Mullings when the police instructed them to step out of the car in which they were travelling.
“One person ran and the driver fired on the police and gunfire was returned. Jack A Diamond is no saint. Depending on who you ask, you will get the truth,” the lawman said, adding that the police have an idea of the identity of the man who fled the scene and are currently pursuing him in a multi-divisional search.
The residents took to a section of Maxfield Avenue to protest on Friday. However, quick action by the police made the disruption to vehicular traffic short-lived.
Mullings, who celebrated his 27th birthday a week ago, was before the court for assault and firearm-related offences at the time of his death.
He has long been deemed the head of the front (top) Sunlight Street Gang.
“The bloodletting in the division – the war among factions on Sunlight Street – has caused the murders and shooting in the division to increase,” the senior crime-fighter said.
The residents did not dispute Mullings’ influence and only contended that he was not armed when confronted by the police.
“The police will have more problem around here because everybody know him nuh fire no shot and nobody ran in nearby bushes,” one resident contended.
The police said that since Mullings’ death, they have been placed on alert after threats were made by men aligned to his faction.
The police are warning those behind the threats not to act on them.