News
Hell breaks loose in West Kingston
BY COREY ROBINSON Observer staff reporter robinsonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
THREE policemen were shot and injured and two men who police say were "known gunmen" lost their lives during an alleged gunbattle in Hannah Town, West Kingston yesterday.
Following the shooting, there was prolonged gunfire in sections of West Kingston as armed men challenged the police for almost two hours.
At the nearby Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), where the gunmen were pronounced dead and the injured cops admitted for treatment, police securing the facility had to take cover as gunshots rang out outside the institution's rear entrance. The incident sent staff, patients, reporters and dozens of residents who had converged to get word on the men's condition scurrying for cover.
No other injuries were reported.
Up to late afternoon the cops -- one of whom was shot in the neck -- were listed in stable condition.
Residents identified the dead men as Marvin 'Kingsley' Kelly and a man known only as 'Fruits Man'.
Police said both were known gunmen in the area, and that a Glock pistol and a bulletproof vest were taken from a house in which they were killed.
According to the police, they went into a section of the Denham and Hannah town communities for Kelly and 'Fruits Man', but came under fire from a group of heavily armed thugs.
"We understand that three officers were shot, one in the neck and one in the left arm. I don't know where the other officer was hit," said one of several high-ranking cops who visited KPH. "Two known gunmen were shot and killed also," he added.
Yesterday, the house where the two men were killed resembled a scene from a horror movie.
Clots of blood covered the living room floor downstairs, and virtually every wall on the second floor of the two-bedroom structure had bullet holes.
Bullets also damaged a television set and pieces of furniture on which blood-stained clothes were strewn about in one of the rooms.
Kelly's mother, identified only as 'Queenie', was brought to tears after she exited the building.
"I don't even see my son. Some people said that him dead and other people tell me that him don't dead; I don't know," she said, adding that her son lived at the house with the mother of his child.
"Is one time my son ever go to jail. I don't hear him name calling in anything and nobody -- no police or anybody -- can't come tell me what my son has done to die like this all now," she added.
Yesterday, Opposition spokesman on national security Peter Bunting condemned the shooting of the cops and blamed the incident on the Government's refusal to sign an extradition request for West Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
In a release to the press, Bunting said the incident pointed to a chronic breakdown of law and order in the country.
"The continued failure of the Government to uphold the law and treaties in relation to extradition is but one manifestation of its failure to pursue a clear course on crime," Bunting said.
 
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3/16/2010
Mr. Security minister please look at the pictures of those Officers, and tell the Nation why have they no Helmets on.
Don't you see that they are not propperly geared for a battle. Cant you ask the Canadians, or your American counterpath for the assistance of more secured equipments?: The Commissioner should see the danger his men are exposed to not wearing any helmets at all. One bullet to a officer's Head, and he is dead on the spot. Would the Family received compensation as a result of your In- Competency? Failure to provide adequate equipment, "Or it doe's not matter. I'am wondering what is really your responsibility where the Officers are concerned. Is it only to have them Charged for corruption?
You need to exercize more responsibility on behalf of our Police officers..Think about this Mr Senior Bull:
3/16/2010
I'm actually disappointed that the Observer even bothered to post Bunting's comments. Clearly its political posturing on his part.
Moreover, the frequency of such events has become common place in Jamaican society and is indicative of just how troubled our society is. The government should focus on two objectives, providing jobs for these types of individuals who see a life of crime as a foregone conclusion and removing guns from the country. I realize the enormity of such an endeavour but if the country is to EVER recover, these two topics must be front and centre on their agenda. A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
3/16/2010
I think Mr Bunting's comment has nothing to do with the real issue at hand. He was just trying to play politics as usual but he chose the wrong forum......we need to focus on the issue and i think that this is just a perfect example of how we get distracted and why the country is faced with such huge porblems.........we need to start being selfless.....and we also need to start taking wholistic views and approaches to the country....selfishness is ourr problem...we need to bring back the love and unity!
3/16/2010
Can you believe this, can anyone imagine how traumatic this is to the children who happen to live there. This is not a civil war, this is the begining of total ANARCHY. We have allowed our society to reach this condition so far .The kids need no video games or T.V. to experience what is becoming the total break down of a country. We can all do the expected of saying, it worst in New York or any other place ,but I am here to tell you it 's just not so. Nowhere else is there an expectation or hope by the lawless that they will suceed in the end. The culture of cuddling and caressing outlaw behaviour is a certain path to destruction. Jamaica needs to show the Government that are tired of the promises and they are ready for systematic changes. Too long have we tolerated the " a whey we a go do " mentality, we need to start NOW !!!!!! . As long as the citizens are accepting of these conditions there would seem to be no reason to change. Those who are here in the U.S. will need to render all the assistance necessary to rebuild our beloved Homeland .The time for discussion panels have passed, we are at BREAK POINT , the world is progressing and leaving us behind.If we are simply satisfied with having a cell phone as our example of progress, then fine. You will never know what joy it brings to my heart to see or hear any Jamaican achievement in academics or sports, as oppose to our designation as a murder capital. There are those who will always point to Tourism as an indication that we are not so bad. I beg to differ, if things were different i.e. the people were more civil and accepting of tourists as being vital to our economy, then we would be attracting a higher percentage of the tourism dollar. The next step would be investing in our educational system, its a shame that we are so close to the U.S. and we are not reaping the benefits of their out sourcing of high tech opportunities.Let us as Jamaicans of goowill take up this challenge and lead the rebuilding of our country. Mi waan cum back a mi Yaaaaad.
3/16/2010
From my researching the incident from both sides, I found out that Kingsley, who indeed had a bullet proof vest in his house, was killed while in bed. Frutis the other person, I was not able to decipher much on him. So I will leave that alone.
One point to note, was that the police was not able to produce any docuement authorizing them to enter the house or any listing the charges to which they were planing to use to place any of the two men under arrest
I am sorry that any policemen were injured, but no one no matter who or especially where they live desevered to be gun down in their beds.
my only wish is that this matter be throughly investigated.
mike willy you are a stupid and insensitive person.
3/16/2010
So Mr. Bunting, if Mr. Coke's extradition request was signed,the police would not have gone looking for fruitsman & Kelly and this inident would not have happened? Or are you saying that if Mr. Coke's extradition request was signed, when the police went into Hannah Town or Denham town or wherever it is they went ,and please note Mr.Doug Campbell,it was not Tivaali Gardens that they went to, then whoever they were looking for would just peacefully surrender? And when did this chronic breakdown in law and order that you speak about start?
Mr.John Christian Mr. Bunting is being intellectually dishonest as you pointed out. That is the foundation on which Jamaican politics is built. There are a lot of people out there who buy into those types of pronouncements hook,line and sinker.
Mr.Chet Osbourne, Mr Bunting needs to be called out for his statements,because they make no sense,and a man of his education and supposed intellect should see that, so his motives for making such comments need to be questioned. And how does my or anybody else not commenting on the fact that police were engaged in a serious crime fight as you call it take away from our criticism of Mr..bunting's statement. As for the rest of your comments, you too seem to be playing politics.
At least the observer seem to have sought to report what took place, unlike one other newspaper,whose first paragraph had to mention Tivaali Gardens and Christopher Coke's name,when from all indications neither Mr.coke nor Tivaali Gardens had anything to do with this incident
3/16/2010
george watson i agree with u on the part that the bystanders bot protecting themselves from harm then if anything happen to them, the police get blame. Jamaica we need to stop playing now, i am not saying police are saints, but HAVE WE EVER HEARD OF A POLICE SHOOTING where the persons admit that the persons shot and killed/injured were actually guilty. Those shots that were fired when all the police were on the compound of KPH who was firing them? someone please tell me? CONGRATULATIONS to the Security Forces and the 3 officers get well soon.
3/16/2010
so i am guessing that these user names were created by one person because i cannot believe that so many Jamaicans are so low that they skip past the brave crime fighters to criticise bunting for his true words..
proverbs 11: 7. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
3/16/2010
Regardless of reason or origin, the result is clear. Law and Order has lost the fight against crime! The security forces cant apprehend two gunmen without creating a national fiasco. We've gotten so used to this kind of scene, I'm willing to bet this wont make tomorrow's news. Suppm haffi change!!
3/16/2010
I had the greatest respect for Peter Bunting the investment banker but since his "PNPNIZATION" The man has been totally transformed, it's unbelievable what politics can do to sensible people.Wouldn't it have been better to sympathize with the police who were trying to rid us of some miscreants who are bent on causing mayhem than to say something like that. Just a note to whom ever it may concern, it's better to keep your mouth shut and have people think your an ..... than open it and confirm it. Unbelievable
3/16/2010
its only just began the war is not over... Blame all sides and blame yourselves too only when you are affected that you cry foul play .. not when you dont know the individual. It may or may not be the most famous person in the world that caused it however it may be a contributor. and face the government knows all sides to the story
3/16/2010
I cannot even begin to understand any suggestion that the security forces injured themselves in friendly fire. Seems as if some people are watching too many CNN stories about Iraq and Afghanistan.
The next thing I expect to hear is that the criminals that engaged the security forces were just innocent law abiding Jamaican citizens.
People who are not familar with the area and the influence of the TG don should not be so strident with their opinionated assessment of yesterday's unfortunate event.
Mr. Bunting comments has relevance.
3/16/2010
It so sad how most of us like to go back and paint pictures and comment on things of the past. I see where a lot of readers jump down on Mr Bunting for his comments. None of the readers commented on the fact that the police were engaged in serious crime fighting and also injured, It appears when a police died, there is no pain compared to the killing of a gunman. Let us all put politics aside and do the right thing and clean up Jamaica. For all readers who like to diss the opposition because of 18 years of non productivity, let us all remember that the people of Jamaica voted for them because the other party was not up to standard, hence what we are seeing now as a result. It should have took the JLP government 18 years to have the solution if the other party was wrong in everything they do. Now is the chance for them to shine, yet they have no answer to any of the issues at hand.
For all the readers who like to play politics, do your part as true Jamaicans and rise up to the occasion and show some courage and march peacefully against crime and violence and show the world that we want to bring back Jamaica to higher standard of living. I bet none of you dare to go on TV to show solidarity with the police in ridding the country of unwarranted crime and violence. I know I would. Peace.
3/16/2010
Well Well the armies of the Sovereign State of Tivoli Gardens and sorrounding communitiies has successfully repelled an invasion by the Jamaican security forces who dared to enter their territories in search of wanted men. Dont the Jamaicans have the common sense to know that whoever they regard as criminals are heroes in the autonomous states.
Next time Mr. Commisioner please submit a written application to the President Dudus when you want to enter his territories or else your presence will be treated as hostile and the armies of the President will rise up and throw you out. If you dont like this action you are free to complain to the United Nations.
3/16/2010
this is so sad, 1980 election is happening again and ever worst.
3/16/2010
peter buntin is a intellectually dishonest person,opportunistic in his pronouncements,..what a stretch to link extradition to normal criminal activity...political jokers like him should remain silent ,when they have to make this "verbal reach" merely to seem relevant...
3/16/2010
This is only a prelude to what's to come when the security forces remove Dudus...But, after the storm, there will be calm... I do believe that the whole extradition issue has made West Kingston tense, so the police must approach with caution when they enter any of those communities.... Mr. Bunting, u might be right, but it was your gov't that helped created these creatures of destruction... Neither ur gov't nor the JLP is any better, both continue to be a disservice to all Jamaicans… Enough is enough!!!!
3/16/2010
So this is what the PNP has come to....scraping the bottom of the barrel for political points. Mr Bunting's comments are irresponsible and unacceptable. We have a collective responsibility to rid our country of these criminals. Mr Bunting seems to have conveniently forgotten the surging crime rates while his party was in government. Further, he also seems to have forgotten that this monster (crime) was not created in 2007, but long before under his party's administration and what the country is reaping, are the seeds that they had sown. The JLP has its work cut out for them and we need to see strong and decisive policies and action, but nothing will work unless we are ALL on board to rid our country of this monster.
3/16/2010
You mean to tell me that this woman called "Queenie", she did not know that her son was a gunman. In case she didn't know then, she knows now.
Congratulations to the police for doing a great job and hoping the injured policemen a speedy recovery.
3/16/2010
It seems like when the police go into these areas for known gunmen, and there are many of them, they have no strategy, these areas are tough, why wait until you are pinned down under heavy gunfire to request the support of the military, this should be a part of the strategy going in. The country has a defense force and a police force, there should be NOWHERE off limits in Jamaica to the security forces, and that includes Hanna Town, Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town. It is corrupt politicians that have created this mess, and as one perosn posted on here, it is time to start exposing every last one of them. More care should be taken as well in minimizing the death of civilians, and respecting the rights of the Jamaican people, including people living in this so-called garrison communities, I prefer to call them the politicians backyard. As for Peter Bunting's comments, I will just ignore them for now.
Richard Edwards. New York City
betterlifeforjamaicans
3/16/2010
I think it's irresponsible of the shadow minister to blame this unfortunate event on the governments refusal to signs Coke's extradition warrant, as there are no evidence at this point to suggest that is in fact the case. I'm afraid partition politics will be the cancer that kills our beloved country as these politicians seek to use these situations to address their own personal agendas instead of finding and tackling the root causes. I find the entire political arena shameful, but shame on you Mr. Bunting from whom i have come to expect better
3/16/2010
This is not the time for the oposition in jamaica to play politics they should be standing behind the pm in face of america bulling the united states will not exterdite their citizen to another country to face criminal justice therefore why should the pm break the law there are currently five mercenaries in the us that the iraq goverment wants for killing seventeen civillians yet the us has refuse to exterdite them to iraq. People do not be affraid of america bulling and threats stand firm mr golding we are proud of you
3/16/2010
Sss
3/16/2010
Is Peter Bunting serious or what...how does he relate the incident to the matter relating to the extradition. The police went to arrest two men who they named and on the polices version there was a shootout and the men who they went to arrest were killed three police shot and injured...with the amount of shots fired based on the police version, the injured police could all be injured by friendly fire. I think Mr Bunting must go get a life outside of Dudus, he is too blinkered!!!
3/16/2010
These monsters are known by politicians, members of the security force and people of the community. It time we rise up, be brave and identify these criminals who are creating avoc in our society. Its only when it affect us personally that we cry for justice. Well justice belongs to everyone. Please give the names of politicians, police and anyone who is affilliated with these agent of distruction.
3/16/2010
I am reading this report and thinking, how sad and frustrating this crime problem in Jamaica is, then I come down to Mr. Bunting's comments and I am STUNNED.
It is so unfortunate that the former government got crime under total control, and since 2007 it has gotten all out of control again.
We need to get back to the days when Peter Bunting brough the crime rate down. Oh, I miss the good old crime free days of the PNP administration.
3/16/2010
Was it Bunting who said, "We believe it is best of us to form the administration, so ANYTHING that will lead us or cause us to be in office, we believe is best for the country and in the best interest of the country." No it was not Bunting. It was ANOTHER PNP official.
ANYTHING includes spreading irresponsible propganda. The sad thing is, they CAN INDEED fool some of the people some of the time.
3/16/2010
Could someone PLEASE explain to me how, the government's refusal to extradate Dudus led to the police going "into a section of the Denham and Hannah town communities for Kelly and 'Fruits Man', but came under fire from a group of heavily armed thugs."
Could somene, PLEASE, I BEG YOU, DO, explain to me how the government's refusal to grant the extradition request BECAUSE IT WAS IN VIOLATION OF JAMAICAN LAW, results in ""The continued failure of the Government to uphold the law."
What is Mr. Bunting's objective here? What is Mr. Bunting's crusade here?
3/16/2010
Yes Mr. Bunting, the dithering on Mr. Golding's part, might be a factor, but it was also a FAILURE ON THE PART OF YOUR GOVERNMENT TO UPHOLD THE LAWS AND PROTECT US. that is the first responsibility of government -- to protect its citizens.
Don't try to foist off eveything on this government, it wont work.
The problem I have with this administration is that they promised to fix things and so far it has gotten worse. Much worse.
3/16/2010
This picture is quite funny really. Some nurses are running for cover while others seem to be watching the proceedings as if they were watching a movie. Are we so immune to this sort of thing?
The thing is that if one of the police bullets had injured or killed one, we would have heard of irresponsbilty on the part of the police and about them shooting wildly. What a society.
3/16/2010
Jumaker nuh see nutten yet.... dis not even the smoke yet...Kakka....
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