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<H2 align=left>Dancehall tension triggers Marverly’s gun violence</H2>
Tension between two top dancehall DJs has spilled over among their supporters in sections of Maverly in lower St Andrew, according to sources.
Police, in two controversial incidents, shot and killed two men, one of whom was aligned to one of the DJs. The police said 25 year-old Ricardo Palmer, facing trial for the murder of dancehall showman Gerald Levy alias “Bogle”, and 18-year-old Jamar Johnson, alias ‘Bin Laden’ are members of the Top Maverly Gang. Johnson was one of those killed under controversial circumstances last week. Johnson, police said, was wanted for several murders and shootings in Maverly and the neighbouring community of Drews Avenue community. Another man known only as Eustas is said to be on the run.
According to residents, Palmer and his team who are loyal to dancehall master Beenie Man have taken on supporters of Mavado, a member of the Bounty Killer Alliance crew, who are based in Bottom Maverly. Last Saturday, in broad daylight, the Top Maverly gangsters reportedly opened fire on their opponents. The police was summoned, and they claim Johnson was killed during a gunfight. Palmer, who is out on bail, has since been taken into custody.
Residents challenged the police, saying that Johnson was unarmed when he was killed. Palmer’s life, they claimed, was saved after one of his relative threw her body over him as the cops trained their weapons on him.
Giving the police version of the killing, Superintendent Newton Amos told Sunday Herald that the police on Saturday, January 20, received reports that a group of heavily-armed men, including Palmer and Johnson, had invaded a section of the community known as Bottom Maverly and fired several shots in the area. No one was injured, the police said.
Following the shooting, the gangsters reportedly retreated to premises on Campden Crescent. The police said they went to the area and they were greeted with gunfire when they approached the building and attempted to enter.
The police said they returned the fire and Johnson was found suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital and later was pronounced dead.
The police said a 9mm Ruger pistol and two rounds of ammunition were taken from Johnson, who, they said, was wanted by police after absconding bail while on murder and shooting charges.
The other killing took place last Wednesday, when police said a man identified as Jerome Pinnock opened fire on a patrol at the intersection of Moberly and Oakwood Avenue, in the community.
But residents, including several of the deceased relatives, told the Sunday Herald that the young man was executed. Those who spoke on the record said while they were not disputing the police version that gun was found, Pinnock had no gun when he was shot several times. One woman said the cop took Pinnock into a yard, pushed him to the ground, and shot him several times before dragging his lifeless body into a van and drove off.
Checks with Amos to get a background on Pinnock were also unsuccessful as the police said that the files were not readily available.
Tension between two top dancehall DJs has spilled over among their supporters in sections of Maverly in lower St Andrew, according to sources.
Police, in two controversial incidents, shot and killed two men, one of whom was aligned to one of the DJs. The police said 25 year-old Ricardo Palmer, facing trial for the murder of dancehall showman Gerald Levy alias “Bogle”, and 18-year-old Jamar Johnson, alias ‘Bin Laden’ are members of the Top Maverly Gang. Johnson was one of those killed under controversial circumstances last week. Johnson, police said, was wanted for several murders and shootings in Maverly and the neighbouring community of Drews Avenue community. Another man known only as Eustas is said to be on the run.
According to residents, Palmer and his team who are loyal to dancehall master Beenie Man have taken on supporters of Mavado, a member of the Bounty Killer Alliance crew, who are based in Bottom Maverly. Last Saturday, in broad daylight, the Top Maverly gangsters reportedly opened fire on their opponents. The police was summoned, and they claim Johnson was killed during a gunfight. Palmer, who is out on bail, has since been taken into custody.
Residents challenged the police, saying that Johnson was unarmed when he was killed. Palmer’s life, they claimed, was saved after one of his relative threw her body over him as the cops trained their weapons on him.
Giving the police version of the killing, Superintendent Newton Amos told Sunday Herald that the police on Saturday, January 20, received reports that a group of heavily-armed men, including Palmer and Johnson, had invaded a section of the community known as Bottom Maverly and fired several shots in the area. No one was injured, the police said.
Following the shooting, the gangsters reportedly retreated to premises on Campden Crescent. The police said they went to the area and they were greeted with gunfire when they approached the building and attempted to enter.
The police said they returned the fire and Johnson was found suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital and later was pronounced dead.
The police said a 9mm Ruger pistol and two rounds of ammunition were taken from Johnson, who, they said, was wanted by police after absconding bail while on murder and shooting charges.
The other killing took place last Wednesday, when police said a man identified as Jerome Pinnock opened fire on a patrol at the intersection of Moberly and Oakwood Avenue, in the community.
But residents, including several of the deceased relatives, told the Sunday Herald that the young man was executed. Those who spoke on the record said while they were not disputing the police version that gun was found, Pinnock had no gun when he was shot several times. One woman said the cop took Pinnock into a yard, pushed him to the ground, and shot him several times before dragging his lifeless body into a van and drove off.
Checks with Amos to get a background on Pinnock were also unsuccessful as the police said that the files were not readily available.
