‘LIKE INCURSION ALL OVER AGAIN’

Gunshots send Tivoli residents running

After a chaotic night of gunfire, tension was palpable in Tivoli Gardens yesterday.

Residents stood peeking over grilles, some sat outside their gates with perplexity stamped across their faces, as policemen and soldiers patrolled the community.

The gunshots that rang out Monday night brought back painful memories for many, who likened the barrage to the 2010 incursion.

Residents say there were shootings in different sections of the community - Courts, Lizard Town and Java.

“Me did afi get flat. A bout one hour worth a shot beat. It come like a incursion all over again! Me neva know weh di shot dem a come from … one a di time, it feel like a right behind me window everything a happen. Same time me start mek calls cause me a try fi find out what is happening in the community,” a man said.

HIGH-POWERED WEAPONS

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Stephanie Lindsay, a team of officers were on duty, as part of the Disaster Risk Management Enforcement Team, when they discovered a gathering of about 200 persons at a nine night.

When they tried to disperse the crowd, they were fired on by gunmen in Lizard Town.

“The persons didn’t resist. They dispersed. But shortly thereafter, a group of gunmen fired at the police officers from different angles with high-powered weapons for about 10 minutes. Reinforcements were sent in to take charge of the situation and got the police officers out safely,” she said. “Even the soldiers who were sent in to get the police officers were fired on by gunmen in the area. There is no question as to whether there was a shootout.”

But residents are adamant that there was not.

“We caa manage no more a dis. This a foolishness … a dem alone a shoot. Nobody nah fire off a dem! After that, dem start walk all bout the place and a pick up the shot dem,” one female resident told THE STAR. “Dem a barge in a we house and claim seh dem a search. Hours a night! Dem a treat we like some dog in Tivoli.”

Another resident added that ordeal “was like a mini incursion”.

“Mi feel like mi did a go dead especially when mi hear the shot dem a connect inna the water tank on the roof. A whole lot of children were in the passage playing and a God make none a dem nuh get shot,” the resident said.

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