Brothers killed in August Town

June 04, 2020
Blood stains mark the spot where one of two brothers fell after they were attacked in August Town yesterday.
Blood stains mark the spot where one of two brothers fell after they were attacked in August Town yesterday.

Tired of the continued bloodshed, a resident of August Town said that she is now so fearful, she has contemplated taking her own life.

"Why dem kill the innocent youth dem? I am afraid to the point where I feel like committing suicide. It was the police who encourage me and tell mi not to. Mi get depressed every time night comes and mi wish every day was daylight," she wailed.

The ongoing violence claimed two of her neighbours yesterday. According to police reports, about 7 a.m., brothers Demar Francis, 36, and Robert Clarke, 25, were in their yard when they were shot by gunmen bearing high-powered weapons.

"I was in bed and when I hear the shots, I cry out because mi honestly thought it was mi daughter. Then mi hear mi daughter bawl out and mi realise say is Demar and Robert get shot," she said. "The two man dem innocent. Dem never do anything to deserve this."

Best grandson

Death has also stalked the men in the woman's home for the past two years. She tearfully remembered her grandson who was shot and killed in 2018.

"Him was mi best grandson. Him never give mi any trouble and the day when mi hear say dem kill him, is like part a mi dead too," she said.

She stated that she and her family have been receiving death threats from men in the community for a while.

"We were planning to rent the houses because we were going to move. Some of my family had already moved. At nights we never used to sleep in the front house because we are afraid. People use to tell us that they hear footsteps at nights so we need to be careful. I am very afraid," she said.

She stated that the family is being targeted because of a relative who has been 'mixed up' in a string of illegal activities. In mourning the brothers, the resident implored the gunmen to cease fire.

"Put down your weapon and take up your Bible, please. Remember every time yuh kill someone, it is somebody belly pain you are killing," she wailed as she rubbed her stomach in anguish.

Security personnel later escorted the embattled family from the yard.

Member of Parliament for Eastern St Andrew, Fayval Williams, implored residents not to get weary.

"Please don't give up because long-lasting peace is worth fighting for. I am very concerned because these type of things always lead to reprisals and the people are here expecting gunmen to strike again. When these revenge killings happen, these killers don't care who the stray shot will hit. So can you imagine the psychological toll this is taking on law-abiding residents?" she said. "Last Friday, an eight year old was shot and the grandmother was saying that the child ran under the bed and still got shot. I just can't imagine growing up in a community where gunshots are the order of the day, so we have to intervene in a way to break this cycle."

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