13 guns seized in upscale community - Cops say man killed during raid was top-tier gangster

Police believe that Kevin Carpenter, who was killed yesterday after he reportedly challenged lawmen as they searched for illegal guns, was a top-tier member in the Trelawny-based Compound Gang.

They also believe that Carpenter, since his release from prison in 2018, ran an illegal gun trade between parishes. Senior Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, head of the police's Corporate Communications Unit, told THE WEEKEND STAR that the 36-year-old, whom she said was "one of the leadership persons" in one of the country's "most notorious gangs", was very active despite being on the police's radar for quite some time.

"...and it was the intelligence that worked around him that led to his capture," she added.

The police reported that about 11:30 a.m., the operation was carried out by members of the Area Two Fugitive Apprehension Team at a house in the gated Florence Hall Housing Scheme in Trelawny that was occupied by Carpenter, a woman and three children. It is further stated that on entering the bedroom, Carpenter pointed a firearm at the police and he was fatally shot. The woman was also arrested and the children taken into protective care.

One senior investigator told THE WEEKEND STAR that they have strong reason to believe that the illegal guns were destined to be distributed among gang members.

The police say that they recovered 13 firearms, including 10 high-powered rifles, 526 assaulted rounds, 42 magazine clips, a holster and 23 lead sheets in the operation that began in St Mary, crossed into St Ann and culminated in Trelawny. The weapons seized, according to Superintendent of Police Carlos Russell, who heads the Trelawny Police Division, indicates the intention of the police, who he said cannot effectively fight against crime without the help of the citizenry.

"We are going all out to identify all the gangsters and to target them in a very big way. We also want the assistance of the citizens because, as you can see, these guys are moving into gated communities because they have found them to be safe havens. We are saying to citizens that whenever you see strange faces, strange activities, houses where guys are frequenting regular, be concerned and pass on these information to the police. You must also have a vested interest in your safety also," he said.

The police have also recovered more than 100 illegal firearms since January.