16-y-o among alleged gangsters killed in shootout with cops

THE STAR has learnt that three of the men who were killed in a reported shootout with the police early yesterday morning in Zambia in Central Village, St Catherine, had to come to the area recently to avenge a crony's murder.

"Come dem come fi fight war fi dem friend weh dead man. But a di same friend weh dead first kill a woman and dig out her eye dem and cut her throat. Dem kill him back and shoot out back his eye. So dem come here to defend him. Yuh have some woman in here weh accommodate dem too. Yuh think woman nice," a resident said. In expressing relief at their demise, he said that residents were forced to remain silent as the criminals had full control.

"Is like a di gunman dem a run ting. This might bring some calm to di place and as mi say, mi nuh wah di police dem left ya, dem fi live ya. Yuh know how much people run whey left dem house because a war and dem ya bwoy ya. If dem interfere with yuh, yuh have to bite yuh lip and hold it because yuh can't go report it a station. If yuh ever tell the police, a problem. Yuh can't go a station or yuh house bun dung or yuh dead. A suh yasso run bredda. Dis worse dan when Tivoli did under di big ting. Is like yuh can't talk nuh matter what dem duh yuh," the resident lamented. The men have been identified as 16-year-old Deandre 'Little D' Channer of McGregor Gully in Mountain View, Kingston 3; Patrick Brown, 24 of Zambia district; Nigel Adams, 22, of Sarah Street, Kingston 4; and 21-year old Romario Brewster of Burgher Gully, Rollington Town, Kingston 3. The resident said his prayers have been answered now that the men are no longer in the area.

"Mi bow down on mi knee and kiss the Earth and God answer. When mi hear di shot dem a straight under mi bed mi gallop go. At first mi think a did gunman but afterward mi find out say a police. Right now mi want di police dem just live in here ... dem nuffi left yah," he said.

According to police reports, at 2:30 a.m., the police approached the dwelling where the men were staying and were greeted with gunfire. The fire was returned. Assistant Commissioner of Police Gary Griffiths said that when the gunfire subsided, four men were found with three firearms.

"It is an area of Central Village that has always been of concern. This area is really a hotbed for crime. With his morning's find this would make about six guns that have been taken from the area," he said. The incident is being probed by the Inspectorate and Professional Oversight Bureau of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and was reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations.