THE RESURGENCE of gang violence in Spanish Town, central St. Catherine, claimed the life of a watchman yesterday morning, pushing to 12, the number of murders committed in the Old Capital in the last four days.
The police identified the latest victim as Keith Lewis, 32. According to the Constabulary Communication Network, Lewis's body, with multiple gunshot wounds, was found slumped in a chair at a school on Church Street by a co-worker who went to relieve him.
Mr. Lewis, who lived in the Tawes Pen, St. Catherine, is believed to have been murdered shortly after midnight.
Assistant Commissioner George Williams who is in charge of Police Area Five, which includes St. Catherine, said information reaching the police was that members of the 'One Order' gang were seeking to avenge the death of their leader, Oliver 'Bubba' Smith, who was shot dead in Kingston by gunmen last month.
GANGS AT WAR
"It seems a if members of the gangs ('One Order' and 'Clansman') are attacking each other in their own little enclaves. This is something that we are taking very seriously," ACP Williams said.
The Gleaner understands some of the persons slain last week were killed because they had crossed 'border areas'.
A detachment of heavily armed police and soldiers patrolled the streets of the Old Capital yesterday afternoon. On Saturday night, a patrol seized an illegal 9mm Browning semi-automatic pistol, with three cartridges.
The patrol captured the weapon following a brief encounter with a lone gunman who fired at the patrol, and then ran leaving the handgun behind.
