Man fatally shot during police operation in Lawrence Tavern, St. Andrew

By Kimone Witter    

 

A man was fatally shot and an illegal firearm reportedly seized during a targeted operation in Lawrence Tavern, St. Andrew on Friday morning in search of wanted men.

 

He has been identified as 39-year-old Andrew Richards, a labourer and shopkeeper.

 

The incident occurred sometime after 5 a.m. in Tavern Gully, also known as George Mason Drive.

 

The St. Andrew North Police say the operation was in response to the increase in criminal activity in several communities in the Lawrence Tavern policing area.

 

The suspects behind the disruption are said to be part of a criminal syndicate.

 

Radio Jamaica News has received information that prisoners who are members of the syndicate continue to influence illegal activities in Lawrence Tavern.

 

The areas of concern to the police are Tavern Gully, King Weston, Rose Hall, Florence Hill and Track Gate.

 

The police say nine murders were committed in Lawrence Tavern in 2024. 

 

In the meantime, residents of Tavern Gully in Lawrence Tavern are disputing the police report that Mr. Richards engaged them in a shootout.

 

A relative told Radio Jamaica News that his cousin was taken from his bed and killed. 

 

"Dem come 'bout 4 o'clock this morning and shoot di boy around 5:30 this morning, and then yah go mek wi know seh him engage inna [shootout] wid unuh when a just three shot alone buss.... Man inna shootout wid unuh, when unuh tek man outta him bed? Ask fi gun, by time unuh ask fi gun, man get shot?" said the relative who questioned the police's version of events.  

 

The relative is also claiming that the wrong person was targeted based on a conversation he had with the police team. 

 

"The same policeman again stop me and seh to me seh, 'Who own dah blue shop deh up deh suh?' Mi seh to him seh, di man weh unuh a ask for unuh shoulda know because unuh already have him inna custody..... The policeman seh to me seh 'Basically a him we did come for still enuh.' So mi seh unuh kill a man and den aguh ask weh him deh, and a wrong smaddy unuh kill?"