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<LI style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Dog Paw gang threatens reprisal for Bedward Gardens beheading
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
Residents of Bedward Gardens in east rural St Andrew are on edge following the beheading of a man in the community on Saturday and, based on recent history, they have good reason to be afraid.
Two of the major criminal organisations operating in the area - the Dog Paw and Banton gangs - are again at odds, and the residents know that when those 'elephants' fight, the innocent get hurt.
But the police say they are aware of the possibility of escalating violence in the area and are implementing measures to keep the peace.
Yesterday, the police conducted a cordon and search in the community and detained 35 people, including some wanted for questioning, but that has not allayed the fears of residents.
They say members of the notorious Dog Paw gang are up in arms over Saturday's beheading of 37-year-old George 'Bobby' Smith, allegedly at the hands of members of the Banton gang.
According to the residents, a directive has been given within the Dog Paw gang that at least five persons should be killed in retaliation for the beheading of Smith, whose head has not yet been found.
"The man (Smith) was not involved in any gang, but him was a elder in the place who Dog Paw respect, and the big man (Dog Paw) say 'Bobby' should never dead so," one resident of Bedward Gardens told The Gleaner yesterday.
Dog Paw, whose real name is Christopher Linton, is facing charges including three counts of murder; three counts of shooting with intent and two counts of illegal possession of firearm.
"From Dog Paw gone a jail, the man dem from the Banton gang a pree (look at) the youth (Smith) and a tell him say him boss gone now, so him fi dead. But because Bobby and him family dem know say dem no involve in any gang ting, him never tek the threats serious," added the resident.
The residents say members of the Banton gang had long told Smith that he would die because he was too close to a woman who had borne a child for one of them.
"Now them want to tek the woman thing and cover up. Is not the woman why them kill him because Bobby and the female never inna nothing. Him have him wife and two children with her, but is because them don't like how him move," the Bedward Gardens resident said.
The resident recounted numerous instances over the past few years when Smith and his family members were threatened by members of the Banton gang.
"All when the Dog Paw man them come inna Bedward Gardens and do tings, the man dem say Bobby and family did know say dem a come and never tell nobody," the resident claimed in reference to a December 2010 killing spree in the community.
At that time, it was reported that about 40 men armed with rifles and handguns went to a house in the community and attacked the occupants.
Three persons were killed in that attack, which was believed to be in reprisal for the fatal shooting of Jamal 'Regan' Duncan, by gunmen allegedly linked to the Banton gang.
It was reported that Duncan was a member of the Banton gang, but was killed after he started associating with members of the Dog Paw gang.
"Dog Paw might deh a prison and other big man out of the gang might not be around, but them still can defend Bobby's killing, and this nah go stop because him was a good youth who only have kindness for everybody," a resident said.
The police are well aware of the threats of reprisal. Head of the St Andrew Central police, Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight, told The Gleaner that measures have been implemented to put a lid on the violence.
"We have strategised based on what is happening, and using some experience while being futuristic, we have put in a curfew to contain the problem," Knight said.
"The majority of the deployment from St Andrew Central, with help from Mobile Reserve, Area Four Headquarters and the Delta Team, are in there trying to prevent any reprisals," he added.
Knight said the police team on the streets was being led by a deputy superintendent 24 hours each day, as the police are expecting further problems but are planning to prevent any loss of life.
Knight has repeatedly urged the residents to provide the police with information on Smith's killers as one way to prevent any reprisal killings.
arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
Residents of Bedward Gardens in east rural St Andrew are on edge following the beheading of a man in the community on Saturday and, based on recent history, they have good reason to be afraid.
Two of the major criminal organisations operating in the area - the Dog Paw and Banton gangs - are again at odds, and the residents know that when those 'elephants' fight, the innocent get hurt.
But the police say they are aware of the possibility of escalating violence in the area and are implementing measures to keep the peace.
Yesterday, the police conducted a cordon and search in the community and detained 35 people, including some wanted for questioning, but that has not allayed the fears of residents.
They say members of the notorious Dog Paw gang are up in arms over Saturday's beheading of 37-year-old George 'Bobby' Smith, allegedly at the hands of members of the Banton gang.
According to the residents, a directive has been given within the Dog Paw gang that at least five persons should be killed in retaliation for the beheading of Smith, whose head has not yet been found.
"The man (Smith) was not involved in any gang, but him was a elder in the place who Dog Paw respect, and the big man (Dog Paw) say 'Bobby' should never dead so," one resident of Bedward Gardens told The Gleaner yesterday.
Dog Paw, whose real name is Christopher Linton, is facing charges including three counts of murder; three counts of shooting with intent and two counts of illegal possession of firearm.
"From Dog Paw gone a jail, the man dem from the Banton gang a pree (look at) the youth (Smith) and a tell him say him boss gone now, so him fi dead. But because Bobby and him family dem know say dem no involve in any gang ting, him never tek the threats serious," added the resident.
The residents say members of the Banton gang had long told Smith that he would die because he was too close to a woman who had borne a child for one of them.
"Now them want to tek the woman thing and cover up. Is not the woman why them kill him because Bobby and the female never inna nothing. Him have him wife and two children with her, but is because them don't like how him move," the Bedward Gardens resident said.
The resident recounted numerous instances over the past few years when Smith and his family members were threatened by members of the Banton gang.
"All when the Dog Paw man them come inna Bedward Gardens and do tings, the man dem say Bobby and family did know say dem a come and never tell nobody," the resident claimed in reference to a December 2010 killing spree in the community.
At that time, it was reported that about 40 men armed with rifles and handguns went to a house in the community and attacked the occupants.
Three persons were killed in that attack, which was believed to be in reprisal for the fatal shooting of Jamal 'Regan' Duncan, by gunmen allegedly linked to the Banton gang.
It was reported that Duncan was a member of the Banton gang, but was killed after he started associating with members of the Dog Paw gang.
"Dog Paw might deh a prison and other big man out of the gang might not be around, but them still can defend Bobby's killing, and this nah go stop because him was a good youth who only have kindness for everybody," a resident said.
The police are well aware of the threats of reprisal. Head of the St Andrew Central police, Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight, told The Gleaner that measures have been implemented to put a lid on the violence.
"We have strategised based on what is happening, and using some experience while being futuristic, we have put in a curfew to contain the problem," Knight said.
"The majority of the deployment from St Andrew Central, with help from Mobile Reserve, Area Four Headquarters and the Delta Team, are in there trying to prevent any reprisals," he added.
Knight said the police team on the streets was being led by a deputy superintendent 24 hours each day, as the police are expecting further problems but are planning to prevent any loss of life.
Knight has repeatedly urged the residents to provide the police with information on Smith's killers as one way to prevent any reprisal killings.
arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com
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