Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
This inspector of police was on Mountain View Avenue instructs a motorist to use Langston Road as the area was very tense. Another minibus was shot up by gunmen yesterday afternoon leaving one woman hospitalised. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
AT LEAST nine persons, including passing motorists were shot over the past three days in a renewed flare-up of violence in the Mountain View area of Kingston. The shootings reportedly stem from an argument among rival gangs from the area and revenge attacks.
According to the police, at least four minibuses plying the Half-Way Tree/Mountain View Avenue route have been damaged by gunmen since Friday. The latest incident took place yesterday when another minibus was sprayed with bullets resulting in one woman being injured.
Reports are that the violence erupted on Friday after the shooting of a man from a section of the community. This was followed by reprisal attacks.
MINIBUS ATTACKED
"A Hiace minibus travelling north along Mountain View Avenue yesterday was attacked by a group of about 10 gunmen as it reached the vicinity of Thorbourne Avenue. A 45-year-old woman was shot in the face," a police constable told The Gleaner last night. Up to press time last night the woman was being treated at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). Following the attack vehicular traffic travelling north on Mountain View Avenue was diverted to Langston Road.
On Saturday night eight persons, including an 11-year-old boy, were shot and injured. Also on the injured list was Television Jamaica's Oneil Millwood, the presenter of a technology programme aired on TVJ's morning programme 'Smile Jamaica'. They were shot in separate incidents. The police said four were admitted and the other four were treated and sent home.
A constable from the Mountain View Police Station last night described the area as "very tense," and said there was no sign of pedestrian or vehicular movement along Mountain View Avenue between Jacques Road and Goodridge Lane.
The police who have been kept busy patrolling the area also came under fire from gunmen.
Meanwhile, giving his take on the flare-up of violence, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor/ caretaker for the Vineyard Town Division, Collie Allen, said the conflict stemmed from a dispute among men from 'Top' Jacques Road and Goodridge Lane. It is alleged that the buses were attacked because persons from Goodridge Lane own at least two of them which ply the route.
