Red Hills residents cry for peace

Following Sunday night's shooting of three persons at a bar along Red Hills Road in St Andrew, residents in a section close to Cassia Park are still on edge.

The Half-Way Tree police reported that at 8:15 p.m., persons were at the establishment when a car drove up and occupants fired at the customers.

Three persons were hit and it was later revealed that 29-year-old Brendane Campbell, otherwise called 'Zaley', died from his injuries; the other two victims were hospitalised.

Residents told THE STAR that they are not interested in war but persons from another section are using them as target practice.

"A long time this yah war a gwan and di man dem come here when they feel like and walk the streets as they feel like but we can't walk go cross the bridge," one resident said.

A relative of a woman who got shot in her leg said that it was the grace of God that allowed her family member to survive.

She said that people were enjoying themselves at the bar before tragedy struck.

Not getting the support

The relative, who is a vendor, said that community members have tried to keep peace meetings on multiple occasions but feel they are not getting the support from the authorities.

Another resident said that Sunday's incident only solidifies the threats coming from the other.

"A from Saturday dem a send threat and dem come Sunday and carry out dem threat. Can you imagine working right cross the bridge and you affi tek taxi and go to work if you come from this side because if you walk go pan the other side dem wi kill you?" the resident lamented.

Cries of peace are coming from affected residents as they say they do not want their children to grow up in fear of being targets every day.

"Mi need this fi end because we can't take this anymore. Dem a try fi wi lock dung wi business but wi affi live. See the man affi close the bar deh," the resident said.