Clarendon rocked by another mass killing

Clarendon has been jolted by three mass murders in three consecutive years.

Residents are still haunted by the horrors of the September 12, 2021 Havannah Heights quadruple murder which affected one family. In June 2022, the nation was stunned by the brutal throat-slashing murders of Kemesha Wright, and her four children in Cocoa Piece.

The latest tragedy unfolded early Wednesday at the Genesis Lounge and Grill in Summerfield, bringing a night of karaoke to a deadly and bloody end. Reports are that about 1:15 a.m., residents reportedly heard explosions and summoned the police. On the arrival of the lawmen, there were four men with gunshot wounds, two of them outside a cookshop and two others were inside. All four were taken to hospital, where they were pronounced dead. A motive is yet to be established. The victims have been identified as Varrel 'Harry' Manning, his cousin Theo Manning, shop operator Kish Brown of Line Road in Summerfield, and a man known only as 'Rasta' or 'Tumpa'.

A resident said that upon hearing news of the mass killing, she had the ''same burning feeling" when she heard of the murders of Wright and her children.

"Dat same burning feeling weh inside a yuh ... it hurts! It hurts! And these things need to stop. Yuh can't wake up and a walk 'round with gun an' just a kill people suh. Mi cyaa find a reason fi sey why you would a waa fi just kill people," she said. Residents told THE STAR that 'Tumpa' had recently regained his ability to walk after suffering a stroke. One man who was among residents looking at the bloody scene said he heard more than 50 gunshots.

"Dem jus' come and spray di place [with bullets],'' he added. Bullet-riddled walls, bloodstains and shattered liquor bottles bore a telling tale of the tragedy.

Robert Morgan, member of parliament for Clarendon North Central, decried the incident, adding that it was a reflection of how heartless and brazen criminals have become.

"Losing four constituents in one incident is very traumatic for the community. The police will tell you, we don't have these sorts of things happening on a regular basis, but we live in a society where people have become very heartless and brazen. So we just have to join together as a community and support each other in this time of grief," said Morgan.

People's National Party councillor candidate for the Chapelton Division Fraince Douglas said the incident underscored a "dark day for Chapelton". Douglas, who is also a cousin of one of the deceased, was brought to tears.

"It is really a dark day in Chapelton, because it is one after the other (two mass killings). It is really sad. I know them by name, everything. About 10:30 [Tuesday night] I drove pass them right here. Yesterday (Tuesday) mi and them out in the streets. I am really saddened,'' Douglas said.

One senior lawman urged business operators to desist from operating beyond regulated hours.

"Once it is the cut-off time for your establishment to be closed, close your establishment, abide by the law. [And] to the persons who keep parties, when it is the cut-off time for the parties, shut down the parties," charged acting assistant commissioner of police in charge of Area 3, Glenford Miller.

The police are asking anyone with information to make an anonymous report to Crime Stop at 311 or NIB Tip line at 811, or call the nearest police station.

Up to September 30, Clarendon had seen an 18.6 per cent increase in murders, having recorded 83 homicides, compared to 70 killings over the 2022 corresponding period.