Turf war blamed for Rockfort mass shooting as one suspect killed by police

By Clinton McGregor 

   

Prime Minister Andrew Holness and National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang on Tuesday toured Pleasant Heights in Rockfort, East Kingston, the site of a deadly attack on Monday night.

 

Five people were killed and two others wounded when gunmen fired on people attending a football match in the community.

 

The police say two of the five men killed were aligned to gangs and said to be "dons" in the area.

 

The community is tense and the security forces are bracing for possible reprisals.

 

Speaking with members of the media on Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Holness said the deadly attack supposedly stemmed from a dispute over turf. 

 

"I think more and more Jamaicans are realising that these men who claim to want to protect the communities or call themselves 'elders' or 'don', or 'dads', or whatever term they may choose to describe themselves, they are nothing but criminal, low-life; people whose only intent is to undermine your security, and if they are allowed to do so, they will ultimately claim your life. They are of no value to the community. And it is about time that all communities, all members of the community, realise that these persons serve no good purpose," he insisted. 

 

One of the suspects in Monday night's shooting was fatally shot during a police operation in the Rockfort area on Tuesday afternoon.

 

This was revealed by the Prime Minister, who said he could not comment on the specific circumstances. 

 

"I note the report of the Superintendent here who said that one of the persons who is suspected to be involved in the shooting, that they met what I would consider to be their just end if they were involved. And the JCF and the JDF will maintain their posture of being very aggressive, but just, in how they pursue these persons," he said. 

 

Radio Jamaica News was informed that the suspect was shot in the Rushden Road area and a firearm seized.

 

INDECOM Commissioner Hugh Faulkner said a team from the entity is investigating the shooting of 21-year-old Jordan Green, of Rushden Road in Rockfort. 

 

"The police reports that armed with a search warrant, a team went to the specified address where a confrontation occurred, resulting in the demise of Mr. Green. The law enforcement body has reported that a 9mm pistol and ammunition were recovered in the incident. While INDECOM probes this matter, it is for the police and not the commission to establish any connection between this incident and any prior incident," Mr. Faulkner explained.