Cops cut down two top-tier gangsters in St James
Published:Friday | June 7, 2024 | 12:11 AMAdrian Frater/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Two of St James’ most-feared gangsters were killed within 24 hours, in separate incidents this week.
They have been identified as Collin ‘On Cock’ Walters, an enforcer from the notorious 13 Street Gang, which is based in Tucker, near Montego Bay, and Ackeem ‘Rizzla’ Brown, the leader of Dump Gang, which is based in Retirement.
“We are urging all the wanted men across the parish to turn themselves in to the police as we are taking a zero-tolerance approach against lawlessness,” Senior Superintendent Eron Samuels, the police commander for St James, said at a press conference shortly after Walters’ demise on Wednesday.
“Since the start of the year, the division has seized 42 firearms and 822 assorted rounds of ammunition and we will continue to be relentless in our efforts to rid the streets of these illegal weapons and the persons who are firing them,” added Samuels.
According to reports, Walters, who was implicated in Tuesday night’s gun-slaying of 28-year-old Nigel Smith in Red Square, Tucker, was tracked to a guest house in Montego Bay shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. He reportedly challenged the police and during an exchange of gunfire, he was killed.
A Browning single-action pistol with three live rounds in its magazine was seized in the aftermath.
Smith, who resided in Tucker, was reportedly killed as an act of reprisal for the killing of Marlon ‘Cash Money’ Medley and Durant Burke, two top gangsters from the 13 Street Gang, who were reportedly killed in Trelawny on May 25 by members of the Tucker Street Gang.
Both gangs are locked in a murderous feud.
Brown, who the police said was heavily linked to lottery scamming and the trading in and hiring of illegal firearms, reportedly engaged the police in a gunfight after he was cornered at a location in Retirement on Thursday night.
At the time of his death, Brown, who is said to have recruited and groomed former St James most wanted man Nester ‘Zaddo’ Gallimore, had a case for possession of a prohibited weapon before the Western Regional Gun Court.
However, he reportedly absconded after being offered bail.
His influence in the criminal underworld was said to be quite strong as, in addition to running his gang, he reportedly held sway over several other notorious criminal organisations across western Jamaica.