Fears that a rival gang leader was using a fragile peace accord to entrench and empower himself was what enraged armed thugs who staged a murderous attack on residents in the war-torn St Catherine community of Gregory Park on the weekend, law enforcement officials have theorised.

Thugs, seemingly devoid of mercy and some carrying jugs of gasoline and Molotov cocktails or makeshift petrol bombs, invaded the community early Saturday morning, unleashing a barrage of gunfire and setting fire to at least 11 houses located at 17 and 44 Walkers Avenue, the police and residents report.

Amid the inferno and gunfire, residents say terrified cries echoed through the air as occupants trapped in the engulfed homes cried out, “Help! Murder!”, as they pleaded for their lives.

Ignoring the cries, the gangsters continued the terrifying attack that lasted approximately an hour, residents told The Sunday Gleaner.

During the onlaught, 28-year-old taxi operator Raneel Haughton, also known as ‘Rum Punch’, was killed in a hail of bullets while sitting in his car talking to a friend on the phone at approximately 3:50 a.m. He was just getting off work.

Residents said that Haughton tried to run but was hit several times in the upper body. He was later pronounced dead at hospital.

An 80-year-old woman was hospitalised for burns to her hands and legs, injuries she suffered as she tried to escape her burning house.

At least 47 people, including 27 children, several of them infants, have been left homeless.

‘GULF’ AND ‘MEXICO’ AT WAR

The attack has its roots in a longstanding rivalry between two gangs from neighbouring areas called ‘Gulf’ and ‘Mexico’, one law enforcement source told The Sunday Gleaner.

The names of the gangs were not disclosed.

“I don’t want to call any gang names and glorify them. They are criminals,” the police source said.

Nearly a year ago, members from both gangs brokered a truce, which residents now fear has been shattered beyond repair.

“Mi in mi bed and hear a whole heap of gunshot and, when mi peep out, me see over a dozen man walking down the avenue, some inna mask. Then mi hear them say, ‘the peace over’,” one nervous resident told The Sunday Gleaner.

Three weeks ago, hoodlums staged a similar attack in the area known as ‘Mexico’, which is not far from Walkers Avenue, which left 15 people homeless, including 10 children.

According to the law enforcement source, members of the gang behind yesterday’s attack became suspicious that during the ceasefire, the leader of the rival gang was increasing his grip across other communities.

“So, they just decided no more peace. And they just went and shoot up the place,” said the source, referring to the Walkers Avenue attacks. “It’s a fight to control turf; that’s basically what is happening.”

BRACING FOR REPRISAL

The St Catherine South Police Division said it is prepared for possible reprisal attacks and has vowed to track down those involved in yesterday’s incident.

“As we carry out our investigations, we will pursue every lead to neutralise these gangs. We will not allow them to dominate our space and carry out their acts of violence at will,” declared Deputy Superintendent Hopeton Nicholson, acting commander of the St Catherine South Police.

Nicholson acknowledged that policing some parts of Gregory Park is a challenging prospect because of informal clusters of houses erected behind zinc fences.

However, Deputy Police Commissioner Fitz Bailey has sought to assure residents that the police, with assistance from the Jamaica Defence Force, will increase deployment to the area to ensure their safety.

“We have to look at our deployment strategy and all of that. But I believe, right now as we speak, there are adequate resources there now to bring that level of reassurance to the citizens,” he told The Sunday Gleaner late yesterday.

The Gregory Park attacks come on the heels of a series of double and triple killings in recent days that have threatened to reverse the fall-off in killings this year.

Jamaica recorded 786 murders between January 1 and July 29 this year, an 11.8 per cent decline year-on-year, according to the latest statistics published by the police.

Bailey, who heads the crime and security portfolio, acknowledged that the police are concerned about some of the recent double and triple murders, as some of the victims were not the intended targets.

“They might go for one person, but they don’t care who else is there. These criminals don’t take any precaution like how law enforcement has to be very cautious in the exercise of their duty, so that they don’t injure bystanders,” he reasoned. “These guys have no such concerns.”

He urged citizens to be cognisant of the “persons they keep company with”.

Gregory Park is now under a 48-hour curfew, which began yesterday at 6:00 pm and ends tomorrow at 6:00 pm.

ruddy.mathison@gleanerjm.com [3]

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com [4]