Police on high alert after man shot dead in Denham Town

 

Members of the police and military are keeping a close watch on sections of the Kingston Western Police Division following a flare-up in gang violence.

 

This follows Thursday night's fatal shooting of 41-year-old Ricardo Ellis, otherwise called 'Bozza' or 'Boyah'.

 

The promoter, of a North Street address, was shot and killed by armed thugs about 8 p.m. at the intersection of Wellington and Nelson Street, popularly known as Scream Corner Headquarters.

 

He was killed at a children's Christmas treat. 

 

It's reported that Ellis was standing in front of his business establishment when he was pounced upon by two men on a motorcycle.

 

The men opened gunfire hitting Ellis multiple times. 

 

The shooting forced women and children to scamper for cover. 

 

Ellis was rushed to Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

 

Investigators have listed two men who go by the aliases 'Milo' and 'Zidane', who are said to be both members of the Oneaway Gang.

 

Investigators alleged that Ellis was a top-tier member of the Scream Corner Gang, which has its headquarters at the intersection of Wellington Street and Nelson Street. 

 

The cops believe that an internal conflict over the leadership of the gang led to his demise. 

 

The police are also bracing for reprisal attacks. 

 

Investigators say Ellis was the holder of a US green card and had resided in the state of Connecticut with his wife, who is an American citizen, for the last two years.

 

It was also revealed that Ellis returned to Jamaica on Monday, December 22. His return was in preparation for a Christmas treat, which was held in the community at the Wellington Street park, and concluded shortly before he was killed.

 

In the meantime, Assistant Commissioner Michael Phipps, head of the Area 4 headquarters, said the police are determined to track down and capture the suspects behind the killing.

 

He admitted that police were caught off guard by the attack, as the area, which is under the Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO), has been enjoying a level of peace over the last few years.

 

"In light of the fact that we have had this particular killing within the Denham Town ZOSO, we from the security forces inclusive of the JCF and the JDF will be keeping over a close watch on activities within the Denham Town ZOSO and all the surrounding areas. We want to reassure the citizens that we will be maintaining the highest level of vigilance in or around the particular space until we can properly identify the persons who are behind this particular killing and all the persons that we believe are a threat to the present peace that is likely to be shattered by this particular killing," he advised.

 

He appealed to the two listed persons of interest, 'Milo' and 'Zidane', to report to the Denham Town Criminal Investigations Branch. 

 

"These two persons are persons who we would want to speak with in respect to this particular killing, and we are asking them to make it easy on themselves, to report to us at the earliest possible time," he urged.