A BULLET from an AK-47 assault rifle shattered the head of three-year-old Devonte Lawla on White Wing Walk in Olympic Gardens, St. Andrew, yesterday.
The toddler was killed as rival gunmen battled each other in a bloody turf war in the community.
Little Devonte was the victim of a drive-by shooting and was among three persons gunned down in separate, but related shootings in that community. The other victims were identified as 39-year-old businesswoman, Patricia Powell-Bloomfield, who operated a wholesale store at 32 Hill Avenue, and 20-year-old Hobbs Palmer, alias 'Blade'. Two persons were also shot and injured in the running gun battles, one of whom has been so far identified as Morris Johnson, 21, alias 'British'.
Yesterday's shootings, said to be a result of a bloody feud which began in August last year, have pushed the number of persons killed over the past two weeks to more than 20.
When The Gleaner news team visited the war-torn community yesterday, the mood was tense, and dozens of concerned residents living in the vicinity of the shootings lined the streets discussing the violent turn of events. Some were busy setting up roadblocks along Grass Quit Glade to ward off any other attacks.
Reports are that the relative calm of the community was ruptured by a barrage of gunfire and cries for help on White Wing Walk about 11:15 a.m. when it is alleged that a grey motor car with heavily-armed men aboard, who spotted Johnson, and opened fire at him.
Johnson was shot in the left leg but managed to escape his attackers. However, the gunmen then turned their high-powered weapons on young Devonte, who had been reportedly walking with Johnson.
The slain child, a student at All Saints Basic School, would have celebrated his next birthday on July 7.
WORST CRIME SCENE
"In all my years, this is the worst crime scene I have ever seen. The killing of this child has really impacted terribly on me," said Detective Inspector Michael Phipps, a 20-year veteran of the police force, who is also a father of four.
While the police were busy probing the crime scene at White Wing Walk, rival gunmen in the community - on foot - made a quick and fatal strike at Hill Avenue, killing Mrs. Powell-Bloomfield and her store assistant, Palmer. They were gunned down inside the store.
An emotional Bertham Bloomfield said his wife had spoken to him about 20 minutes prior to her death.
They got married four years ago, but had a relationship for over 20 years, a union which produced two children, 19-year-old Tamara who now resides overseas and 10-year-old Rushane, who attends school in the community.
