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Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness. (CMC file photo)
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Police say they have shot and killed one of the people involved in Monday night’s killing of five people at a football game as Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged the perpetrators to decide on whether they want to “meet a judge or meet their maker”.
A father and son were among five people killed while watching a football game in Pleasant Heights, Rockfort in Kingston. The authorities have since announced a 48-hour curfew in the area.
Those killed have been identified as Ortavia Austin, 51, his 29-year-old son, Okero Austin; 32-year-old Odane Josephs, otherwise called Bones, and 38-year-old Rosrick Tomas, otherwise called Teniel.
“Seven persons were shot and five people were killed,” said Superintendent Tommielee Chambers, who is in charge of the Kingston Eastern division, adding that the shooting happened sometime after 8.00 pm (local time) at a “friendly football match”.
The number of injured persons remains unclear. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Donovan Graham, said several people had been rushed to the hospital.
This is the latest mass killing in Jamaica in a three-month period. In August eight people were killed when gunmen fired upon persons at a birthday party.
Prime Minister Holness reiterating a statement he had made following the August shooting, said that the killings at the football game was an “organised activity” by gang members.
“There must be no succor, no favour, no sympathy for these persons who organise that. They are criminals and they should be seen in that way and I have said before when a similar incident occurred in Cherry Tree Lane in Clarendon that we will pursue them and the decision is theirs, either they meet a judge or they meet their maker. I encourage them to meet a judge,” Holness said.
Police said that one of the suspects was killed during a confrontation with law enforcement officials and a rifle was also retrieved.
Prime Minister Holness said criminals were using the cover of the various communities to carry out their activities.
“The challenge that we have always had in communities like these is that there are persons who claim that they lead the community; that they have some leadership role and they ascribe to themselves the title ‘don’ and there is a battle for control, for turf.
“For many communities the residents see this as part of normal existence; there is someone who is claiming to protect the community, there is someone who you can go to for immediate assistance,” Holness said.
“I think more and more Jamaicans are realising that these men who claim to want to protect the communities or call themselves elders or dons or dads or whatever terms they may choose to describe themselves they are nothing but criminals, low-lives, people whose only intent is to undermine your security and if they are allowed to do so they will ultimately claim your life.”
Holness said that these people are of no value to the community and it is about time that all members of the communities realise that these persons serve no good purpose.
Holness said that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) are working to bring those responsible to justice.
“Jamaica is not going to sit back and allow organised criminals to threaten the security of the nation and destroy the peace of the community. Everyone in this community should see this killing as an affront, but also as a threat. The police will act in a very judicious and fair manner and act with restraint and be respectful of the citizens, and we urge the citizens to cooperate.
“Make no mistake, once we have identified who the criminals are, we will go after them aggressively and intensely but justly and fairly, and we will bring them to justice,” Holness said.
National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang have also strongly condemned the killings.
“They (security forces) seem to have quickly identified those involved and they are now pursuing them as aggressively as they can. This kind of activity cannot be tolerated in the least and the police have full authority to pursue them.
“If the curfew is needed for a longer period, I have the authority to extend it and I will so do upon the request of the Commanding Officer in this area,” he said, noting that the members of the JCF, JDF and JCF Special Operations Team have been conducting activities to locate and apprehend the perpetrators.
“We extend our sympathies to the families who were affected. We will pursue the perpetrators relentlessly and we will apprehend (them) and ensure this kind of thing is not repeated in this area or anywhere else,” he said.
Earlier, the parliamentary representative for the area, Phillip Paulwell, has described the murders as “senseless” and urged witnesses to come forward and assist the police.
“I am deeply shocked and saddened by this senseless act of terror. This cowardly attack has claimed lives and shattered the peace of Rockfort. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their loved ones …and those who are now fighting for their lives. No one should live in fear, and this kind of brutality has no place in our society.”
