Two killed in attack on Tivoli

When Charles Williams' three children came to spend the day with him at his home in Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston on Wednesday, they had no idea it was their last chance to bond with their father. He was one of two men who were murdered in the relatively safe inner-city enclave on Wednesday night.

At the time of the attack, Williams and other community members were playing a game of ludo in a section of the community known as Java.

One of Williams' relatives was in tears when she spoke with THE WEEKEND STAR. She described him as a cheerful individual who was loved by everyone in the community.

"Everybody love him, him never involve in any wrong-doing. Mi can't manage to talk about it because mi weak. He didn't deserve this. Right now him children dem in the house and dem just a cry," she said.

According to a report from the Corporate Communications Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, about 7:50 p.m., Williams and the other men were sitting on the roadway when they were pounced upon by gunmen who opened fire hitting them. The police were alerted and they were taken to the hospital, where Williams and an unidentified man were pronounced dead. A third man was admitted for treatment.

A few women who sat with a group of small children said the atmosphere was warm and friendly on Wednesday night prior to the attack. The tranquillity was disrupted by men travelling in a car with high-powered weapons.

"The man dem just start fire offa everybody. The car just slow down and shot start fire. The pickney dem just stand up and couldn't move. The way mi frighten mi hold one a the baby dem by him neck and just start draw him, and mi run and drop," a woman said.

While the women spoke with the news team, a group of men stood in close proximity speaking about the night's horror, while several children looked on with expressions of bewilderment. The women lamented that they are traumatised.

"The blood stain inna the pathway is a reminder of what happen. Nuff a dem nuh go online school this morning because dem traumatised because dem did out here and have to run fi dem life too," one of them said. Another added that she is disheartened by the recurring incidents of violence in their community.

"Honestly, mi don't even know or think things gonna change. I'm tired of the bloodshed. What happen here is just going to rewind all over again. ... Mi tired a the killings," she said.