Grange Hill, Westmoreland tense due to gang conflict

By Lorraine Mendez/Kimone Witter     

 

The Westmoreland police say they have been unable to confirm that a threat was issued which caused panicked parents to pull their children from Grange Hill Primary School before classes ended Tuesday.

 

Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifford Chambers, head of Area One, says the police can however confirm that the area is tense due to conflict involving two gangs. 

 

"We have had a few murders. We know the persons who are involved. We know the areas that they are. We have done a number of initiatives in these areas to include curfew, cordon and search. We have some targeted locations that will be given some special operational focus in very very short order.

And as it is right now, our intent is to effectively cauterise the space and bring back some level of normalcy," he noted. 

 

ACP Chambers said communities being given heightened attention by the police include Racecourse, Salmon Street, Geneva, Fullersfield, Peggy Barry and Crowder.

 

The Westmoreland police are targeting the Kings Valley and Ants Posse  gangs and have listed the names of some persons of interest. 

 

They are Demar Thomas, otherwise called 'Heavy D', Romaine Murray, LaShawn Warren as well as Orlando Reid, Charlton Dixon, Tennille White, also known as 'Grabber', and Leon Grayson.

 

The men are urged to contact the police at 311, 811, the crime officer at 876-333-9955, or the commanding officer at 876-822-6840. 

 

Tension has been high in Grange Hill following five murders over the last 48 hours.

 

Parents and guardians descended on Grange Hill Primary School in Westmoreland Tuesday morning after they reportedly received a threat that the institution would be attacked by gunmen. 

 

Clayton Smith, Principal of Grange Hill Primary, said the parents informed him that the threat was issued via WhatsApp, and out of fear, they rushed to collect their children.

 

He said by 9 o'clock, the majority of the more than 700 students enrolled had been picked up and a decision was taken to close the school.

 

With the assistance of the police, the few remaining students were taken to their homes.

 

Grange Hill High School was also closed early.

 

According to Mr. Smith, classes at the primary school could be moved online on Wednesday. 

 

He said the upsurge of violence in Grange Hill is a deja vu moment for parents who experienced a similar occurrence six years ago. 

 

"In 2018, in one day, seven people died within the community of Grange Hill and one of our students was actually killed at the time. So when I spoke to some parents, they said, Sir, we don't want to know if it is real or not real; all we want to know, we feel better having our children at home with us right now than to be at home wondering if it is real."