By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterA TENSE stand-off between groups loyal to one of the country's most wanted man, Joel Andem, and a former assistant, has gripped the community of Swallowfield, South East St. Andrew with fear.
According to the police, members of the "Gideon Warriors" gang led by Andem have turned against a former member of the gang, who was recently released from jail on bail after he was slapped with charges of murder and abduction.
The former gang member and Andem came to prominence in July 2000, after they were implicated in the abduction/murder of gas station proprietor Sylvia Edwards, who was found in a shallow grave on July 31, 2000.
A Gleaner news team visited the area Monday night and again yesterday. Fearful residents said since his return from jail, the former gang member has taken a stand against the spate of crime being commited by Andem and his cronies in the community.
Because of this, the former gang member, now playing the role of a protector for the community, is being hunted by his former colleagues.
Residents told The Gleaner yesterday that Andem and his cronies have been involved in several drive-by shootings across the community. On Monday night two persons were shot and injured.
Things took a turn for the worse on Monday, when 31-year-old Winston Shepherd, otherwise called "Clive Andrews," of Bryce Hill, August Town, St. Andrew was killed by gunmen at a construction site in Land Lease, St. Andrew.
Police reports said he was attacked by a group of men armed with high-powered weapons. He was shot several times in the face and lower back and died on the spot. The police recovered a number of AK 47 spent shells from the scene.
In their defence, residents of Swallowfield have since mounted several roadblocks in the community to prevent further drive-by shootings. Despite police presence in the area at nights, the community is like a ghost town after 6:00 p.m.
