Glenroy Sinclair and John Myers, Jr.,Staff Reporters
A relative (right) of the three persons killed yesterday in Bayshore Park, Harbour View, East Kingston, is overcome with grief at the scene of the crime. She is comforted by a friend. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
THREE ADULTS were killed and a nine-year-old girl was hospitalised after gunmen invaded a house in Bayshore Park, Harbour View, East Kingston, early yesterday morning and opened fire on them.
Those shot and killed yesterday were identified as 47-year-old higgler, Ivenora Campbell; her 27-year-old son, Miguel Panton, and 42-year-old Everton Brown, all of Everest Drive in Bayshore Park. The nine-year-old girl, who is said to be the daughter of Ms. Campbell, received gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital.
The police report that a group of heavily-armed men went to the house in Bayshore Park at 1:15 a.m. and kicked open a door at the rear of the house. A relative of the deceased said the gunmen entered the backroom occupied by Mr. Panton and opened fire. The relative said the men then went to other parts of the house and started to ask for all the adults. They then opened fire hitting Ms. Campbell, Mr. Brown and her nine-year-old daughter.
Mr. Brown and Mr. Panton died on the spot while Ms. Campbell, also called 'Precious', died while undergoing treatment in hospital. Her nine-year-old daughter was hospitalised in a stable condition.
DISPUTE OVER DRUGS AND GUNS
The police theorise that yesterday's killings are connected to the murder of two men in West Kingston last Friday. The police theorise that the men were shot on Matthews Lane and their bodies set ablaze in an open lot on Rose Lane. Preliminary investigations by the police are linking the two sets of killings to a dispute over a stash of illegal guns and drugs.
Speaking briefly with The Gleaner yesterday afternoon, Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas confirmed reports that the bloodshed was centred on a dispute over drugs and guns. The Commissioner's comment was supported by Assistant Commissioner Glenmore Hinds, Head of Operation Kingfish.
"We know that there was a drugs relationship between the men from both communities," said ACP Hinds.
It is alleged that men from the Matthews Lane community had recently lent a stash of guns to men from the Bayshore Park community but who could not later account for the guns. Further allegations are that men from Bayshore Park were involved in a major ganja business in which they smuggled the drug from St. Elizabeth.
When The Gleaner's news team visited the community, members of the community were gathering in the road and peeping over their fences to discuss the tragedy which has rocked the community. A group of bewildered-looking relatives who had gathered outside the house, said that they were at a loss to explain the shootings.
" I don't know why, because Precious is not a mixed-up person. She is a nice, caring and loving person. She is family; she is a counsellor; she is just like everything to everybody," recounted a family member while police personnel from the Scene of Crime Investigation Unit cordoned off and combed the yard for evidence.
The relatives said they were currently making arrangements to take Miss Campbell's six remaining children from the house as they feared the men might return.
The police said that they are continuing their investigations into the both the Matthews Lane and Bayshore Park killings. They are awaiting the results of forensic investigations to determine if a large sample of blood found at a scene on Matthews Lane, Friday, is human blood.
The Gleaner has learnt that one prominent politician was questioned yesterday by senior detectives probing the five killings.
According to police statistics, 480 persons have been killed over the past 108 days.
