Deadly attack - Gunmen kill four in Bog Walk

Murder of four robs blindman of caregivers

BY AINSWORTH MORRIS Observer writer editorial@jamaicaobserver.com

Saturday, July 24, 2010

FOUR persons, including three members of one family, were shot and killed by gunmen who invaded their Pleasant Hill home in Bog Walk, St Catherine, Thursday night.

The attack happened two hours before the midnight expiration of a limited State of Public Emergency that for the past month had kept the illegal guns in the parish relatively quiet.

The dead have been identified as 41-year-old Audrey Thomas, her son Keniel McForka, 19, and her 40-year-old common-law husband Waymon Williams; and family friend Shakira Clarke, 20, who was visiting at the time. Clarke, a customer service representative, lived in Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew.

The identity of a fifth person, who was shot and injured during the invasion, was not released up to press time last night.

Residents, who gathered at the death scene, said they heard loud explosions minutes to 10 Thursday night and alerted the police who, upon investigation, found the five in their two-bedroom wooden house with bullet wounds.

The five were taken to hospital where Thomas, McForka, Williams and Clarke died, while the fifth person was admitted in serious condition, according to the official report from the Constabulary Communication Network.

Police said they found several AK-47 and 9mm spent shells as well as four live rounds at the scene.

The killings have left shell-shocked residents of the rural community concerned about their own safety.

"Right now we need some changes around here," one woman said. "We tired of the violence, we tired of it!"

Yesterday, family members as well as neighbours described the deceased as kind-hearted individuals who took it upon themselves to care for a blind man in the community, even building him a wooden house.

"Last night I had my last meal," said the blind man, as he tried to come to terms with what was happening around him.

Meantime, several children in the community bemoaned the fact that McForka would not be able to give them prizes he promised them on Thursday while they were playing a game a football.

Up to press time last night the St Catherine North police had not established a motive for the killings.

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COMMENTS (23)

Nejeeper KNG
7/24/2010

The pain is genuine. I love my country Jamaica and have served in the US Military. I would join the Jamaican security force today and work for free. These killers are a different breed, God help those who are at their mercy because they have none. I rejoice when a killer is terminated, I just don’t think that they are being terminated fast enough.

Joe Robinson
7/24/2010

Where are the voices of Jamaica for Justice? where are the voices of those who professed to be for the poor amongst us? Where are the voices of those JLP MPs who were absent from parliament? where are the voices of the opposition PNP who throw through the window an opportunity of staying the course against this aweful wickedness of crime in our society?. Do we really know what we are playing with. God help us.

Nejeeper KNG
7/24/2010

There are people who have issues with the security force and their operations but not me. I support every effort to stop these heartless killings. If the gunmen are acting like this with all this security presence; could you imagine what would happen without it? Come on Jamaicans, let’s support our security force and report every suspicious activity; you might be saving your own relatives life. The killers are numb to humanity, they represent destruction. Don’t call me informer call me reformer

7/24/2010

My 6YR daughter just ask me the question 'Why there is a lot of killing in Jamaica?' she went on to ask, what is causing the killing and why there are killers and what make them killers and what make them grow up to be killers? She said she wish she could find out. She was so upset, she can read very, very well and was sitting behind me whilst I was on the computer re-reading the story of the 4 murders in Bog Walk. I was at a loss I do not know what to tell my daughter, my heart is heavy for JA

Cro Magnon
7/24/2010

To calvin graham:
I don't think Janice Allen, Patrick Genius, Kentucy Kid, and Agana Barrett did "...lye wid dag...". We've got to be very careful what powers we give the police.
To bless williams:
I hope your family is blessed to be taken as a prisoner if he/she is held innocently during a police operation.
If we are going to give the police powers, we should enact bills that will make them accountable. So a police officer cannot use the powers to carry out a personal vendetta.

mark jones
7/24/2010

The powerful messages politicians send to criminals.......No sooner than the PNP defeat the extension of the SOE..the criminals got the message loud and clear; 'Time to get back to work'
Community policing is good but what the SOE taught us is that the only thing these thugs understand is equal or superceding force..I hope the new crime bills will be used to continue in the same vein as the SOE

owen smith
7/24/2010

the way to make a statement to these criminals is to catch the ones who did this, carry them to court then put them in solitary confinement for 23 hours out of everyday for the rest of their lives. Catch the criminals and you solve the crime problem!

Rob C
7/24/2010

Over to you now Portia.

Sonny Black
7/24/2010

The fact that any well thinking Jamaican can protest against the state of emergency which is the only barrier between the citizens and these cold blooded killers makes my blood boil. I am only hoping that good sense will prevail against noise comming from these so-called human rights (for criminals) crusaders and the security forces will continue their relentless drive against these vicious animals in our society.

Elli Deedo
7/24/2010

I would not even read this story. Why?" because as I've said the Guns are out there, the security forces, have not recovered most of the illegal Weapons out there; and as soon as there is a reduction in the operation of the Security forces; Criminals will be back on the beat. Am I wrong?" Is this not the case?": Not a Word from PNP and J Flags, you name them who are arguing about the State of Emergency. Every area in Jamaica must be curfewed. PNP know's the Guns are out there to be rcovered:

Nicolas Henry
7/24/2010

With or without a "State of Emergency", hoodlums like those will kill any that come across their paths. JA need to be under military rule for a couple of years, to get a sense of order in the mind of the people. For too long people had open opportunity to kill at will and & commt minor offenses. Yes corruption and many other factors have caused that to happen. I do have confidence that the police will find & neutralize these killers in a hurry. Moral is very high in the JCF & JDF at this time.

otis grant
7/24/2010

just like west indies cricket, jamaica has reached a stage where it can not come back.not what i wish but just the facts, not opinion.i dont know why people believe only tivoli has guns, they are ALL OVER the country.ordinary people can die any time as we dont have bodyguards.there are 2 options for jamaicans, get a visa or sell the entire country out (already in progress) to foreign interests mek dem clean it up an start from scratch.

Brooklyn Jamaican
7/24/2010

JFJ did these people sitting in theor home minding their business have rights?

Maude Cooper
7/24/2010

The feeling of sorrow is forever present. How much longer can this situation continues before indignation take over the nation? Acts like these as become the norm in Jamaica, yet some politicians refuse to recognize it as “National Tragedy” instead immersed themselves in personal/party gratification.

Clara Brooks
7/24/2010

Calvin G. stop judging innocent people, this murder and no murder must go unpunished. People knows who did this cruel and cowardly murder. I sincerely wish with all my heart that these wicked fools attack a well armed police or military personnel. Jamaicans these men and women who hide these cowards will be found, and no mercy please Mr. Hinds, show no mercy, just let them beg first. Sick of this. Absolutely no mercy officers please let them suffer. Cowards.

Malcolm Schenker
7/24/2010

This is so sad. They obviously did not intend to leave anyone alive, without care and remorse. A limited state of emergency won't stop them, they'll just find some bush to hide the guns and themselves until it passes. Under the disguise that they are innocent law abiding citizens whom the security forces are infringing on their rights. Keep the soldiers on the street, drop a curfew anywhere at anytime, nobody on a corner after 12am is up to something meaningful, find something elsefor them to do

ESTEBAN AGOSTO REID
7/24/2010

Totaly savagery and barbarism !!!

jody hyde
7/24/2010

To all you NAYSAYERS, this is the reason why your country needs the State of Emergency. I am ashame of the many bloggers who are condemning the PM, whatever he had done or didn't do, it is time for you all Jamaicans to come together. Clinton, once lie to the American people, they forgive him and today, they are no ex- politician that can draw a crowd like him. So, with that, let Mr. Golding do his job. Which one of us has clean hands? we are all sinners, please remember that BLOGGERS.
Save JA!

calvin graham
7/24/2010

Is there anymore needed to show the people that theese CRIMINALS need to face the same ruthlessnes that they dish out I know they r saying that innocent people get hurt,But my mother once said "yu lye wid dag yu rise wid flea. If you are not in the company of criminals you wont be hurt by honest law enforcement'

bless williams
7/24/2010

police officers please "do not" take any prisoners.wicked wicked wicked,these hoodlums take people lives for nothing.

Jay Brown
7/24/2010

All who are in favour of the ending of the SOE - Please raise your hands.
We are playing politics with peoples lives.

Ramon Castro
7/24/2010

These are not random killings. I hope the injured person will not succumb to his/her injuries so that he/she can give info to the police. These bastards need to be caught, tried and executed for their acts of savagery. The only ways to rid this country of these undesirables is for law abiding citizens to come together and flush them out giving whatever info to the police.

Ainsworth Cole
7/24/2010

State of emergency or not this will still happen if determine gunmen want to go on the rampage. What will counteract this is superior inteligence on these type of criminals plus highly resource and effective policing meaning money must be spent developing and equiping such to aid operational responses, on the list 3 force helicopters for the 3 counties equip with the latest search and find gadgets including night vision and body imaging technology we could intercepted fleeing gunmen very quickly

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Deadly attack - Gunmen kill four in Bog Walk