Gang war behind St. James triple killing - police

   

St. James Police say a turf war between two gangs is behind the attack at Upper King Street on Tuesday which left three people, including a teenager dead.

 

The police will be maintaining a presence in the community while they continue their investigations which have so far resulted in two suspects surrendering.

 

The second named suspect - Kasheem Lewis, otherwise called 'Borderline' - was taken into custody at the Barnett Street Police Station on Thursday.

 

On Wednesday, the prime suspect, 32-year-old John Lee Roach, surrendered to the Falmouth Police in Trelawny.

 

Seventeen-year-old Jaydon Bennett, 26-year-old Rashaun Williams and 62-year-old fisherman David West were killed in the attack at 16 Upper King Street.

 

It's believed that the shooting is a reprisal for a fatal attack in the community on Monday evening.

 

Addressing the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation on Thursday, head of the St. James Police Superintendent Eron Samuels said the second attack could have been prevented. 

 

"Part of the issue that we are facing is that the public needs to work with the police and provide us with information. If we had additional information prior to - because there was an incident that happened the night before - if we had known about it, all of this could have been avoided. So we are asking residents to work with the police so that we can ensure their safety and security," he pleaded.