By Rasbert Turner, Gleaner WriterSpanish Town:
MEMBERS OF the St. Catherine Chamber of Commerce and Industry last night threatened to shut down Spanish Town by next Thursday, September 9, if steps are not taken to curb the high crime rate, particularly murder, plaguing the town.
The threat, made at an emergency meeting, came on the heels of yesterday's double murder in the town in which 30-year-old Donovan 'Dave' Lee, and 16-year-old Shauna-Kaye Williams were slain along Morrison Street.
Their deaths brought the number of murders across the island to date to over 900.
BRANDISHED WEAPONS
It's reported that Mr. Lee was with his three young children and Shauna-Kaye about 1:00 p.m. when two men entered his business place - Lee's Electronic World, brandished weapons and fired several shots hitting Lee and the teenager all over their bodies. The men then escaped along Morrison Street. Lee died on the spot while Ms. Williams died while undergoing treatment at the Spanish Town Hospital.
When The Gleaner visited the area, a strong detachment of police was searching for forensic evidence, while curious onlookers milled around. Police officers told The Gleaner that a number of 9mm casings were taken from the scene. No motive has been established for the latest killing.
A businessman who spoke with The Gleaner described Dave was a very calm young man and said he could not see why any one would want to kill him.
His father, Milton Lee, visibly shaken and his eyes brimming with tears declined to comment on his son's death. Lee is survived by three children.
Reacting to the killings, Rudolph Green, Chamber president, suggested that businesses would be asked to remain closed on Thursday.
This, he said, was necessary to send a strong message to the criminals operating in the area. He lamented the high levels of crime, including the multimillion dollar extortion racket that operates in the town.
And last night there were fears that several business operators were in the process of, or were exploring the possibility of relocating their stores.
The Chamber also called for the setting up of a military base in the town and for more cordons and searches by the police.
