Shootings continue to rock Franklyn Town

"Things cyah continue like this! How so much police fi a drive round ina di area and it come like nothing to di gunman dem so?" said Sharon*, moments after witnessing a drive-by shooting that took place metres from the makeshift police station in Franklyn Town, Kingston, yesterday.

"Two police car just drive pass, enuh, so is like the yute dem a watch di police movements or a get information on the phone," she said. Sharon said that the recent shootings only add to the distress that residents are facing as rival gangs continue to trade bullets in what she describes as a "senseless war".

No have respect for the law

"Weh dem a war fah? A youths weh grow up together when yuh tek a check. Nothing no sensible ina weh dem a do. It obvious say dem youth yah no have fear or respect for the law," she said. The police's Corporate Communications Unit confirmed that about 4 p.m., armed men who were travelling in a white Toyota Axio motor car pounced upon another group of men who were sitting on the corner talking.

One of the assailants allegedly pushed his hand through the window and opened gunfire at the men. However, no one was injured. The men allegedly escaped before the arrival of the police.

Less than an hour earlier, a police unit was allegedly shot up by a man lawmen have identified as Andrew Thompson, otherwise called Goblin. The police say he is wanted for a number of criminal offences conducted in the area recently. The police allege that Thompson fired several rounds at them before escaping in a nearby gully.

When contacted, Superintendent Tomilee Chambers, who is the commanding officer for the area, told THE STAR that she was unable to give an update into the shootings as her officers were still gathering information up to press time.

*Name changed to protect identity