Two victims in Rockfort gun attack linked to gangs, police say

By Kimone Witter 

   

The police say two of the five men killed in Monday's mass shooting in Pleasant Heights, Rockfort in East Kingston were aligned to gangs.

 

The authorities have also confirmed that a father and son are among the deceased.

 

Among those killed are as 51-year-old Ortavia Austin, otherwise called 'Mandez' and his son 29-year-old Okero Ortavia Austin, otherwise called 'Keero' - both of Oliver Road.

 

The elder Austin is said to be a high ranking member of the Oliver Road gang.

 

The other deceased are 32-year-old Odane Joseph, otherwise called 'Bones', a handyman of Pleasant Heights; 38-year-old Rosrick Thomas, otherwise called 'Teniel', a labourer of Oliver Road; and a man believed to be John Dolphy, otherwise called 'John Dixon', a carpenter of a Rockfort address.

 

The police say Mr. Dolphy is the leader of the Base One gang.

 

Two other men were wounded in the attack.

 

The incident has left residents and the police in shock. No clear motive has been identified.

 

It was reported that the victims were attending a football match sometime after 8 p.m. when men opened fire at the crowd.

 

A resident, whose brother was killed, recounted the moments after the shooting.

 

"When di shooting stop and mi went outta di shop and look, mi see three man...and mi seh, 'Weh mi bredda deh?.... Somebody seh, 'See him down deh suh, him dead,'" the resident lamented.   

 

There was a strong police/military presence in Pleasant Heights following the attack.

 

Superintendent Tomilee Chambers, Commanding Officer for the Kingston Eastern Police Division, said the shooting has shattered the peace that was being carefully guarded. 

 

"This incident is shocking to every single person - the police and other stakeholders who continue to assist us - because we have been maintaining a peace and we have been seeing a peace in the Rockford community for months now, or maybe over a year now. And what we have been getting from the citizens here [is] that they feel free to walk, to go about anywhere. So this is very surprising to us. And we are not going to leave any stone unturned," she vowed. 

 

A curfew has been imposed in the area. 

 

In response to the attack on the Pleasant Heights community in Rockfort, Member of Parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal, Phillip Paulwell, has called for urgent action from the security forces as well as community support.

 

Mr. Paulwell described the incident as a heinous act of violence against the community.

 

He is urging all residents who may have witnessed the attack or have information to cooperate fully with the authorities. 

 

"It is only by working together that we can bring those responsible to justice and to restore peace to our streets. I have already spoken to the Minister of National Security. And I'm calling for an immediate response from the security forces. We need a stronger security presence in Rockfort, and the surrounding areas. And I urge community groups, churches, and local leaders to unite in addressing this ongoing violence. Counselling services must also be provided to the families of the victims and those who witnessed this horrific event," he said.