JLP motorcade shot up in MoBay, one killed
Gunmen challenge police patrol in shoot-out
ONE MAN was killed and several persons injured yesterday afternoon when a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) motorcade came under heavy and sustained gunfire in a section of Flanker, St James.
Indications are that had a police unit not been in the area at the time, things could have been worse.
“We had a team in the area and they responded promptly and were actually engaged by the gun,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Steve McGregor, the commanding officer for the St James police division.
“One man was killed, but it would have been a lot worse if we did not have a team in the area.”
According t o eyewitness accounts, at approximately 4:50 p.m., the JLP motorcade was directed into the Flanker community and was travelling in the vicinity of the home of Javin ‘Javinci’ Campbell, the gangster who was killed during Sunday night’s JLP mass rally at Sam Sharpe Square when it came under heavy gunfire.
NO PERMISSION
In addition to the man who was killed and the persons who were injured, several vehicles were damaged.
“No permission was given for any motorcade to come through Flanker. We are aware of the tension in the community and asked specifically that no motorcade should come through Flanker,” said McGregor.
“I am really sad that our instructions were not followed, and I would really like to know who authorised this motorcade in here this evening.”
Dr Horace Chang, the JLP general secretary and member of parliament for North West St James, where Flanker is located, said that the motorcade went into
the community at the request of party supporters living there.
“Persons in the motorcade got a call that the PNP’s motorcade had passed through Flanker and
had no problems, so they (the JLP) should come through as well,” said Chang. “It was while they were passing through that they came under attack.”