Two killed in daylight ambush

The murder of two men and the wounding of another in Bethel Town, Westmoreland, on Wednesday have left several residents thinking about relocating to other western communities.

But one farmer said that he is way too old to allow gunmen and criminal activities to drive him away.

"A right yah suh mi born and grow and mi too old fi mek dem yah young boy mek mi run weh from mi community," he said. The elderly farmer was one of the few residents who was willing to talk to reporters following the shooting which resulted in the death of 48-year-old mason Lesept Barrett of Bethel Town, and Michael Wallace, a labourer, believed to be from St James.

"A whole heap a this mi go tru, weh mi hear gunshot inna broad daylight and next thing mi know dem seh a smaddy dead. But dem gwan haffi kill mi too, because mi naw run weh from yah," he said. The man said that he has been a farmer all his life and that farming is what he used to maintain his family.

"A never suh Bethel Town stay, it used to be a quiet community. But since nuff a the young boy dem bring een them friends dem inna the area, dem come wid them gun, them big car, and whole heap a money weh dem get from ... scamming," he said.

Reports by the Bethel Town police are that about 4:15 p.m., Barrett, Wallace and the other man were constructing a perimeter wall along the Bethel Town main road, when a man walked up to them. He brandished a handgun and opened gunfire shooting all three, before escaping on foot. The police were summoned and upon arrival, Barrett, Wallace and the other victim were discovered suffering from gunshot wounds.

They were rushed to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, where Wallace and Barrett were pronounced dead and the other man was treated and admitted in stable condition.

When THE WEEKEND STAR visited the community yesterday, the occupants of the home where the shooting occurred could not be reached, as they have reportedly fled the community.

Several other residents who had gathered along a section of the roadway were also overheard talking of relocating.

"Mi know that dem did terrible from long time, but dem a get out of hand yah now," one woman said. "Imagine the man a build up him little wall around him house fi get little privacy, and the boy dem come shoot up him place inna broad daylight."