‘Green Lantern’ rifle causing mayhem in Kingston

An illegal rifle dubbed the 'Green Lantern', which was reportedly taken by opposing factions following a murder on New Year's Day on Sunlight Street, is allegedly helping to spur a war between gangs in west Kingston.

Residents told THE STAR that the 'Green Lantern' was 'clamped' by opposing gangsters after it fell from the clutches of thugs who went to Sunlight Street on New Year's Day where they murdered an elderly man. It is widely believed that the rifle is now being used to bolster the defence of the opposing gang.

"You want hear it weh night. A di Green Lantern mek the war heat up. The man dem want it back and di man dem nah send it back, a it dem a use tek dem on. Shot a fire from Sunday til now, a whole heap of shot," a resident said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Micheal Phipps, commander for the Kingston West Police Division, said lawmen have heard about the rifle.

"Just like you, we have been hearing information about the disappearance or taking of a rifle from one gang by the other gang, and so on, but we haven't had any evidence to substantiate that. We have spoken to a number of persons in the community and they have denied any knowledge about that, but it is something we have heard before," Phipps said.

He said his men will continue to occupy and dominate the space "because we don't want the violence to continue".

Recently, there have been several reports of shoot-outs between gangsters in the area. Police have also linked a murder that was committed in St Catherine last Thursday, to the conflict. In that incident, 38-year-old Kenyatta Davis, Keith's son, a warehouse attendant of Sunlight Street was gunned down in Twickenham Park, Spanish Town. Reports are that about 6:45 a.m., Davis was walking along the roadway when he was pounced upon by gunmen travelling on a motorcycle.

Phipps told THE STAR that Davis' family is being targeted because of its blood ties to, Shadane 'Phillipine' McKenzie, who is wanted by the police for murders and shootings.

"It was one gang. All Sunlight Street was one and there was a split in the gang. Some men went with another one they call 'Jack A Diamond' and the others went with Shadane. Since then we have heard they have been trying to rid the community of Shadane and his family," Phipps said.

"We have seen where a number of them have been killed or otherwise shot at or shot and injured."