A tense calm prevailed in the Kingston Western police division yesterday following the shooting death of two men, including a gang leader on Wednesday.
In the first incident, 40-year-old Brian Belnavis was shot and killed by gunmen at about 4:00 pm while he was driving a motorcycle through sections of the community. About three hours later, in what was suspected to be a reprisal killing, 37-year-old Ricardo Kerr, who went by the alias ‘Shabba’, was attacked and shot by gunmen while he was at a shop in the neighbouring community of Jones Town. The gunmen fled the community.
Steve McGregor, senior superintendent in charge of the police division, said yesterday that residents in the community were on edge, but sought to assure them that they had nothing to fear.
“Police are moving to clamp down on any possible violent flare-up so we want to assure the residents,” McGregor said. “We want to call on members of the community to not take matters into their [own] hands but to allow the police to do their job.”
Meanwhile, McGregor also disclosed that there was unease in Denham Town as a result of fighting among gangs.
“We have information that gangs in the area are involved in a feud over turf, but we are moving swiftly to clamp down on any possible developments using the Anti-Gang Legislation,” McGregor said.
He said that nine persons, believed to be part of a group causing problems in the area, have been arrested since last week.
“These persons are suspects linked to an underground ring responsible for taking over houses of some of the residents in the area,” he said. “These persons have been removed and the control of the houses placed under the watch of the police who are now calling the owners to return.”
— Kimmo Matthews