UPDATE | Gregory Park's morning of terror: What happened?
Published:Saturday | August 12, 2023 | 11:30 AM
Gunmen fired on residents fleeing their burning homes forcing them back into the fiery structures, according to a preliminary report of the early morning terror that gripped Gregory Park, St Catherine leaving one person dead and more than 40 homeless.
The attack took place at 17 and 44 Walkers Avenue and at the intersection of Cottage Drive in the dark of Saturday morning.
A police report said the carnage started some time after 3:30 a.m. when a group of men armed with rifles and handguns then made their way to 44 Walkers Avenue where the fire victims were asleep.
The attackers allegedly threw oil on the houses and set them ablaze. They later opened gun fire which awoke the occupants.
"Whilst the occupants were escaping from the burning buildings, the gunmen opened fire at them which they had to retreat inside the burning houses," the report said
One of the residents sustained burns all over her body and is in hospital in serious condition.
At 17 Walkers Avenue 28-year-old taxi operator Raneel 'Rum Punch' Haughton, who was reportedly sitting on a white Toyota Probox motorcar with a friend, was shot dead.
Both men reportedly heard explosions and in a bid to escape, Haughton was shot in his upper body and right arm. He collapsed and later died.
Teams from the Waterford and Spanish Town Fire stations extinguished the blaze.
Eight spent casings and one blood sample were recovered.
Eight houses were destroyed and three partially burnt, according to assessments so far, leaving 27 adults and 18 children without a home.
Gregory Park is in Portmore which is part of the St Catherine South police division.
The area has been witnessing an upsurge in gang-related violence in recent months.
- Ruddy Matthison and Rasbert Turner contributed to this story
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