SEVEN DAYS INTO the new year and Jamaica has had its first triple murder as three persons, including two women, were shot dead and one injured on 77 Lane off Waltham Park Road in St. Andrew on Wednesday night.
The killings, police tell THE WEEKEND STAR, are due to an ongoing gang war between rival gangs in 77 Lane and the neighbouring Content Avenue communities.
The dead people have been identified as 30-year-old Denisha Haye, 28-year-old, Carol Lyons and 27-year-old Omar Bishop, 27, all from 77 Lane.
The injured person, a 33-year-old man, who is also from that community, was treated for gunshot wounds in hospital.
Superintendent Gladston Wright in charge of the St. Andrew Central Division, say the police have taken steps to stop the gang fued. "We have increased our presence in the area," he said.
Although he would not identify the main players behind the gangs, he said the gang feud has been going on for several years. However, it flares up when something happens. "It is not something going on everyday. Sometime you have a long time pass before anything happen," he said.
He added that the gangs were not feuding over turf or any specific thing. Reports from the Constabulary Communications Network (CCN) are that at about 10 p.m. Wednesday night, a group of persons were on the sidewalk along 77 Lane playing card games when two cars drove up.
Several armed men alighted from the vehicles and opened fire on the group, hitting four of the persons.
The Half-Way Tree police who are investigating believe the murders are as a result of a feud between rival gangs.
"The slightest thing triggers off something," he said.
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