Thug, mom killed while watching cricket

The Hanover police are monitoring the activities of the remaining members of the much feared One Voice gang in light of their former leader and his mother being gunned down on Wednesday night.

THE WEEKEND STAR understands that another man is reportedly in hospital nursing gunshot wounds he sustained during the attack.

According to reports, at about 9:30 p.m. Uton 'Bigga' Cocket, his mother, Carlene Graver, and another person were watching cricket on a television at their home in Elgin Town, when several heavily armed men entered the premises and opened fire on them inside their one-room board house. Cocket and his mother were killed, and the third person was seriously injured.

Cocket's grandmother, Autherine Rodney-Reid, who rushed to her daughter's house after the shooting subsided, said that she first saw her grandson's body near the front of the house, and when she went further inside, she saw her daughter's body.

According to residents from the community, the shooting lasted for close to 10 minutes.

"A di nuffest gunshots me ever hear one time," said one resident. "Dem deal with dem really wicked. A over 50 spent shells we count inna de house," the resident said.

ACTS OF REPRISALS

During our news team's visit to the community, there was a strong police presence. "We are maintaining a strong presence in the community as we are seeking to prevent any acts of reprisals," said Deputy Superintendent of Police Conroy Cummings, the operations officer for the Hanover police.

The 26-year-old Cocket has been on the police's radar since the death of his uncle, Valdemier 'Wingy' Chambers, who is believed to be the first leader of the One Voice gang. Cocket was on a court-ordered curfew at the time of his death. His 40- year-old mother was a renowned member of the community.

MANDATED CURFEW

"He (Cocket) was involved in gang-related activities and was locked up earlier this year. There are some matters for which he was still before the court," said Cummings. "He was placed on a court mandated curfew that required that he should be off the roads at nights."

Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Carl Brown of the Hanover Police Division told our news team that the death of Cocket may have some impact on crime and violence in the parish and neighbouring parishes.

"We believe, in relation to crime committed in Westmoreland and Hanover, that it's another dent in one of the major gangs. He (Cocket) was branded as the leader, a top-tier member," Brown said.

The police also say that the gang, One Voice, has been suffering greatly since 2013 with the death of its leaders.

"Since 2013 they have been getting hit. In 2013, 2016 and now 2018," Brown told THE WEEKEND STAR.

"Top-tier members are after each other. Names are already being called in relation to Wednesday night's attack," Brown added.

THE WEEKEND STAR understands that the person who is next in line for leadership of the gang is about 20 years old.

"Who we are eyeing as the next possible leader doesn't have the skills to organise and control its members," Brown said, adding that the police are keeping a close eye on the developments as there is likely to be reprisals and counter-reprisals.