By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterDESPITE SEVERAL reported threats against him, Horace Murphy, one of Arnett Gardens' most popular community leaders, ignored the warnings, a decision that may have cost him his life.
Affectionately called 'Ram Johnnie', the 42-year-old area don was murdered by gunmen on Monday night, in an area known as 'Top Jungle' in Arnett Gardens, south St. Andrew. Allegations are that he was killed by a younger man who had a vendetta against him.
NO GANG FEUD
"This is no gang feud or a prolonging of the problem which started the other day. It is something internal," said Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for the area who had turned up early yesterday morning at the Arnett Gardens Sports Complex.
While not explaining what actually happened on Monday night, Dr. Davies said there was a group of young men in the Arnett Gardens community who have no respect for anybody.
"The death of Mr. Murphy is regrettable. I am saddened... However, this incident will not interrupt the educational and cultural programmes in the community," Dr. Davies told The Gleaner. According to the police, Mr. Murphy and a 30-year-old woman were shot at about 11:30 p.m. Reports are that he was shot in the face and stomach, while the female was shot in the buttocks.
Residents who spoke with The Gleaner yesterday said Mr. Murphy, who was aspiring to become a councillor, was executed by men from 'Top Jungle' who were once loyal to him. The Denham Town police said they are trying to locate a man known as Gihan Brown, alias 'Charlie', who they believe can assist with their investigations.
Tension is now mounting in sections of 'Top Jungle' and relatives of the alleged killers fear for their lives. Yesterday, a highly respected area leader was kept busy pleading with several factions not to retaliate.
In the meantime, acting commander for the Kingston West Division, Deputy Superintendent Delroy Hewitt, said the police have not yet established a motive for the killing, but had put things in place to prevent any reprisals.
SOLDIERS AND POLICE
During a visit to Arnett Gardens yesterday, scores of soldiers and police personnel were seen strategically placed across the community.
The 42-year-old Murphy was regarded by many as one of the more educated men from the community. A Kingston College old boy, Mr. Murphy spent most of his young life in the community, then known as 'Concrete Jungle'. He migrated to the United States where he lived in Washington, D.C. for sometime, returning to Jamaica in the 1990s to conduct his own business.
