Gangster killed months after mother’s sudden death

Four months after being shot in an attempted robbery at a Western Union outlet in Hope Bay, Portland, 26-year-old Rasheed Lyons was on Thursday killed by the police during an alleged shoot-out in his Craig Town, St Andrew community.

Lyons was one of four people charged in connection with the Portland robbery. Among them was his mother, Shakira Clarke. Family members said Clarke, 44, died shortly after being released from police custody.

"Dem charge her and she go court but she got bail," a relative said, adding that Clarke had complained about feeling unwell.

"We take her to the hospital the following day and she died the same night that she go to the hospital."

THE WEEKEND STAR was told that Clarke and her son shared a close bond that was only severed by death. In Craig Town on Thursday, relatives said that if she were still alive, she would have been at Lyons' side during his final moments.

"If she was alive she would have died as well because she love her son," one woman said.

So strong is the bond, relatives say Clarke's spirit visits Lyons at home at nights, appearing in the form of a bat.

"She love her son and want the best for him so every time police come terrorise him she was there," one woman said.

On August 25 last year, after receiving a frantic phone call from Lyons saying he was in trouble and had been shot, Clarke, along with her daughter, immediately travelled from Craig Town to Portland in hopes of rescuing him. Lyons was shot by a licensed firearm holder during a foiled robbery at a Western Union outlet in Hope Bay.

They were subsequently charged with office breaking with intent, malicious destruction of property, and misprision of felony. After being granted bail, Lyons was required to report to the Admiral Town Police Station four times weekly.

Head of the Area Four police, Acting Commissioner of Police Michael Phipps, said Lyons was fatally shot following a confrontation with lawmen during an intelligence-led operation. A Browning pistol, with its serial number partially erased, along with seven 9mm rounds, was reportedly seized. However, residents dispute the police's account, saying he was killed in cold blood.

Meanwhile, Phipps said Lyons was the leader of the CLane/One Ten Gang, based in Craig Town, and described him as a known violence producer in Kingston and St Andrew.

"Intelligence also reveal that Lyons was involved in a car-stealing ring that operates in the Corporate Area," Phipps said.

While admitting that Lyons was not an angel, those closest to him said he was not a troublemaker.

"If yuh never did know say him was a badman yuh couldn't know because him loving and jovial," a relative said.

"We nah guh hide nutten, him a badman, but him nah bad now. Him was no don and him wasn't a problem to anybody. Dem a wicked and dem steal we happiness right now," the relative added.