Teen murdered while watching World Cup
AWestmoreland teenager was murdered as he sat at his home in Dalling Street to watch the World Cup football match between Japan and Senegal on Sunday.
Marlon Beckford,18, otherwise known as Puggie, was reportedly watching the game when he was ambushed by two armed men who opened gunfire at him. Beckford was shot multiple times in his head. The gunmen escaped on foot in the area.
The police have not established a motive for his killing.
Meanwhile, another teenager,
Residents of Look Out, in Hanover, are up in arms over the deplorable state of the main road in their community, and are accusing their political representatives of gross negligence for their failure to address the situation.
“During the heavy rains in January, the main road leading from Hopewell to Look Out has been cut in half and the retaining walls were washed away,” a resident told WESTERN STAR. “In order to get to and from our homes, we have to take a much longer route, which is quite a setback to our daily lives.”
The roadway is used by hundreds of residents from adjoining communities, who travel to the area to access an underground spring, which is popularly known as the Bamboo River. It is one of the main water sources in that section of Hopewell.
Residents have had to be walking to and from the community as taxi operators have refused to go beyond certain sections of the road.
They had to create a makeshift bridge to get across sections that are difficult to traverse. Akeem Samuels, 18, also called Brandon, of Riverside in Kingsvale, Hanover, was shot and killed in the troubled community of Grange Hill. Samuels and a 17-year-old girl were reportedly walking along a section of Bucknor’s Lane, Grange Hill, when they were attacked by armed men, who sprayed them with bullets before fleeing the scene.
Head of the Westmoreland police, Senior Superintendent Gary McKenzie, said the Grange Hill incident is believed to be
When the WESTERN STAR visited the location last weekend, there were signs of construction work taking place on the retaining gang-related.
He said that the police are making their presence felt in both communities as they try to dismantle the gangs in the area.
“I wouldn’t say there is a flareup because we have had 19 days without murder. However, walls. According to the residents, just over a week ago, a team came to the area and started working on the retaining wall. there is also a possibility that there can be because the gangs are on both sides of the community. If they get a chance they will cause a flare-up, so we are out patrolling the area every day to ensure that things are kept calm,” he said.
When Brown was contacted, he said he fully understands the plight of the residents and said he has been working behind the scenes to address the matter.
“I am aware that it has taken a long time to commence the repairs to the road, but it is now being addressed,” said Brown.” The required funds have now been allocated to do the repairs to the roadway and it should be completed in short order.”
Asked to provide a specific timeline, Brown said he could not make any predictions.
However, he said when the work is completed, residents would see a proper drainage system and restored retaining walls.