Maxfield Avenue war still rages - Two more injured in latest shooting

Two men were shot and injured yesterday in Rome, a section of Maxfield Avenue, in an ongoing war that has been plaguing the community for months.

According to reports from the St Andrew Central police, the men were hit when gunmen travelling in a car sprayed the area with bullets. An officer on the scene said yesterday's incident stems from an ongoing gang war between Rome and William Lane.

"There are a lot of law-abiding citizens living here but there are also those who are hell bent on breaking the law. The people from both ends are very afraid and we are usually doing constant patrols in these zones but the criminals are sometimes ahead of us. We will continue to patrol the space," the officer said.

Other than a few persons who peeked over their fences as detectives processed the crime scene, there was hardly anyone in sight. Several businesses along Nelson Road, Rosseau Road and Rose Town were shut tight, and the once lively spots are currently vacant of humans. A bar operator told THE STAR that she has not opened her establishment since last week.

Everybody 'fraid

"Everybody 'fraid and we all know say bar a easy target fi di man dem, so it better mi lose money dan life. The people dem nah come out either so it nuh make nuh sense open. Right now mi just hope di landlord understand because not even dog nah push out a day time cuz dem fraid too," she said.

Despite Zone of Special Operations checkpoints, Maxfield Avenue has been crippled by gang war for some time. Several persons have been killed since the start of the year, including a triple murder on Lincoln Avenue last month. A resident of Rome said many innocent persons have become victims.

"When dem nuh care who dem see, dem just a fire. Two man dem who get shot dis morning (yesterday) a innocent youth dem and mi know others who dead whe nuh know whe dem dead fa. The amount a shot mi hear dis morning, mi tink about 1,000 people dead. Dat show yuh say dem nuh care who dem a lick dung," she said.