Residents leaving community after double murder

Extremely fearful for their lives, residents of Main Road in Gregory Park, Portmore, St Catherine, have begun moving out of the community.

The area has been tense for close to three years but residents said Sunday's killing of two men and injury to another in broad daylight is the last straw. One woman told THE STAR that she stayed awake all night as she was fearful of closing her eyes.

"Mi fraid bad. All of us fraid. As long as the night is we nuh sleep. We sit up all night and every minute mi peep if day light. Is years mi live around here. Over the years a lot of innocent people dying. The main thing is that we just don't know what is causing the killings suh you can't say yuh safe because you don't know if it's you next," the resident said.

According to police reports, Kemar Williams, otherwise called 'Ghetto Bear', Odaine Beal, and another man were at a bar when a car drove up. The occupants alighted and fired gunshots in the direction of the men. All three received gunshot wounds. They were transported to hospital where Williams and Beal were pronounced dead. Those who knew the deceased well said they were no wrongdoers and were unfortunately victims of a string of reprisals.

"They are not even 'road' people. The owner for the bar call Ghetto Bear to fix a light switch because a dem work deh him do. Odaine just follow him and both a dem dead and the owner get shot. None of the three men don't know what dem get shot for. Is like anyone the man dem see, dem would kill," he said.

Pools of dried up blood and bullet holes in the wall and doors tell the story of the terror that transpired. Several houses appeared vacant and were padlocked from the outside. A senior police officer on the scene said the men were killed as a reprisal for a double murder at a neighbouring bar last November. The cop also stated that the ongoing violence is due to a family dispute over "a bar and house".

"So it's like they are killing off each other and innocent people are getting caught in it. Someone else was killed just days ago and as a result, the police were keeping their eyes and bodies in the space. In fact, since last Wednesday, the police ensured that businesses were closed early and by 8 [p.m.], most people were off the road. But the gunmen came in broad daylight on Sunday," he said.

Claude Hamilton, councillor for the Portmore Pines Division, said innocent lives don't matter to the killers.

"They just want to have collateral damage so they can score on their scoreboard. The reasons for these wars surpassed us now and persons are out for revenge. It is blood that they are thirsty for. We are hoping that there can be a speedy [resolution] to this matter. We are relying on the police forces to use all of their intelligence and all of their resources to bring this matter to an end," he said.

Sleuths from the Major Investigation Division say they are seeking the public's assistance.