Bloody weekend - Six killed in western Jamaica

Gunmen went on the rampage across sections of western Jamaica on the weekend, resulting in six persons being murdered across St James, Trelawny, Hanover and Westmoreland.

Five of the deceased have been identified as: Teaka Ennis, 21, of Boston in the USA, and Refuge district in Trelawny; Iron Jarrett, 38, of Spicy Hill in Duncans, Trelawny; Oraine Smikle, 25, labourer of a Manchester address; Omario Morris, 16, labourer of Williamsfield district, St Elizabeth; Marlon Smith, 36, otherwise called 'Rat Nation' vendor of Pimento Hill, German Town, St James. The other victim was unidentified up to press time.

Reports reaching THE STAR are that about 11 a.m. on Saturday, Ennis, her four-year-old daughter, and another woman were walking along the roadway between Refuge district and Spicy Hill, when they were ambushed by armed men. The gunmen opened fire hitting Ennis and the other woman. They also abducted the child but she was later found alive.

The police were alerted to the scene and upon arrival, Ennis and the other female were transported to the Falmouth Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, and the other woman admitted in critical condition.

Gunmen had struck earlier Saturday morning in another section of Trelawny, resulting in Jarrett being shot to death inside his one-room board dwelling in Spicy Hill.

On Friday in St James, Morris and Smith were killed minutes apart. In the first incident about 9:20 p.m., Smith and another man were walking along a section of the roadway in Maroon Town when they were pounced upon by armed men who opened fire hitting them multiple times. They were rushed to hospital where Smith died and the other man admitted.

Morris was shot and killed about 9:45 p.m., by unknown assailants in Kent Quarry district. Meanwhile, the Green Island police in Hanover reported that Smikle, who was reportedly staying at a premises in Santoy district, was gunned down in the community about 8:45 a.m. Saturday after he was pounced upon by armed men.

The Westmoreland police confirmed on Sunday afternoon that a man was shot and killed in the Whithorn community. The police reported that the incident occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m., but was unable to identity the victim up to press time. Circumstances surrounding the shooting were also sketchy.

The Area One Police Division has started out 2022 on a bloody note, already recording 79 murders. St James accounts for 41, followed by Westmoreland with 23, Trelawny eight, and Hanover, seven.