Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Three months ago they were all friends, partying together and hanging out on the same corners at 'Common', Blackwood Terrace, Park Lane, Donmair and Black Ants Lane, off Red Hills Road, St. Andrew, a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)stronghold.

But, since a major falling out between various factions last November, at least 23 persons have been murdered, while over a dozen have been shot and injured. During that time, several houses have been burnt.

The situation has taken a deadly twist as family members of some of the 'corner men' involved in the internal gang feud, having fled the area, are now being hunted and killed one by one. An example of these killings was that of John Innerarity who was trailed and killed outside the gates of the Norman Manley High School last November.

Head of the St. Andrew South CIB, Deputy Superintendent Michael Hugh Phipps, confirmed that three of the victims were killed in his division.

Killings connected

"From our investigations and intelligence, all these killings are connected," Senior Superintendent Calvin Benjamin, of the Major Investigation Team, (MIT) told The Gleaner yesterday.

Monday night's drive-by shooting on Red Hills Road, where six persons from the One Hundred Lane community were shot, is a continuation of the bloody feud, which is now under the microscope of the MIT unit. One of the six, Stephen Campbell, died on the spot.

The bloodletting began on November 19, last year, when six persons were killed and nine others injured, during counter attacks by rival gunmen in the community. Among the injured persons was the area leader Cleveland Downer, alias 'Caasie', of Donmair.

Since that incident, statements were reportedly made that all the persons who were involved in the attack on the area leader would be hunted and killed, likewise their relatives, or close friends.

"We have an interest in Cleveland Downer who we believe can assist with our investigations," said SSP Benjamin.

While uncertain about whether all the killings in that part of his constituency were related, Member of Parliament for North Central St. Andrew, Karl Samuda, said he has been trying over the past two months to restore peace and tranquility to the area.

"I deeply regret the high incidents of deaths that have occurred over the past two months," said Mr. Samuda, who also confirmed that the troubled zone was a predominantly JLP area.