Slain 'Tabby' Shaw praised as a Diamond in the rough

“If you can't ketch Quaco, you ketch him shut.”

That's the pithy proverb, referencing the inevitability of death by association, voiced by a resident as she described the killing of Donald 'Tabby Diamond' Shaw — lead singer of the legendary trio, the Mighty Diamonds — along McKinley Crescent in Kingston Tuesday night.

According to the resident, who asked to remain anonymous because of security fears, the 67-year-old reggae singer may have been killed in retaliation against his son, who is now in custody.

Shaw was killed when a gunman opened fire on a group outside a shop located across from his house about 9:40 p.m.

Senior Superintendent Kirk Ricketts, commander of the St Andrew South Police Division, told The Gleaner that detectives theorised that the killing was linked to Shaw's son, whom he tagged as "a violence producer".

"In fact, the son is currently in our custody on a charge of murder and, as a result, in trying to get a better understanding, we are looking to see if the activities of the son could have resulted in him being targeted,” Ricketts said at the crime scene, directly across from Shaw's house, on Wednesday.

The divisional commander said that McKinley Crescent is in the throes of a long-running gang feud.

"The McKinley Crescent and Wint Road area, they have been in a conflict for some time and the preliminary assessment from the intelligence team is that this incident last night would have originated from a continuation of this conflict,” Ricketts said.

The faces of Shaw's common-law wife, relatives, neighbours and friends were flush with sorrow as they gathered at the family home Wednesday.

Shaw's family cried during grief counselling offered by members of the police force and the Restorative Justice Unit of the Ministry of Justice.

Josheina Shaw, daughter of the deceased, wept openly as she recalled her father as an exemplar of love who cared about the children of McKinley Crescent.

“Every pickney round yah so get lunch. My father send everybody roun' ya go school and, once him nuh deh ya, everybody know,” Josheina said.

She has regrets that her dad had not been inside his house instead of on the street side that fateful night.

Marva Campbell, a recognisable voice from radio station Roots 96FM, who was a close friend of Shaw's and a resident of Olympic Gardens, said Diamond had on Monday expressed to her concern about the violence-hit community.

“Tabby don't trouble nobody. Him is like a saint. The day before, mi sit down yah with Tabby and Tabby a talk bout life ... and I say how dem a gwaan wid di war, di man dem fi stop it and cry 'peace',” Campbell said.

Justice of the Peace Carlene Barrett told The Gleaner that she will always remember Diamond for the respect he had for community folk.

“Every single day he would say, 'Good morning. You okay?' It's so sad for somebody that is not involved to get involved - a peacemaker,” she said.

Four other persons were shot during the incident. One, Owen Beckford, succumbed to injuries he sustained.

The Mighty Diamonds trio, which was formed in 1969, is known for classic songs such as Pass the Kutchie, I Need a Roof, and Have Mercy.

Fitzroy 'Bunny' Simpson and Lloyd 'Judge' Ferguson are the group's remaining members.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com