Five murders in first two days of year
FIVE people have already been murdered in the first two days of the year, following on a trend from last year when a record 1,445 murders were reported.
Devon Smith, 29, of Patosi Avenue, Pembrook Hall, Kingston 20, and Omaric Wood, 16, of Flankers, Montego Bay became the first murder victims for 2005.
The police’s information arm, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), said that at about 6:00 am on New Year’s Day, occupants of Smith’s house heard explosions coming in the house. Smith’s body was later found lying on the verandah with gunshot wounds.
Wood, the CCN reported, was beaten to death by his aunt with a machete about 7:30 am on New Year’s Day.
The CCN liaison officer said Wood’s aunt, who has been detained, but whose name has been withheld by the police, used a machete to severely beat the boy. After the beating, he ran a short distance and collapsed, the police said.
The other three were killed yesterday:
. An unidentified man, believed to be about 30 years, was shot along Seventh Street in Rema, Kingston 12 at about 6:30 am;
. Devon Johnson, 33, also known as “Funny Face”, and;
. Anthony Henry, 27, alias “Blacka”, a mechanic, both of Grants Pen Avenue, Kingston 8, were shot dead by gunmen.
Johnson was killed at about 6:00 am after explosions were heard and his body discovered along Grants Pen Avenue. Four hours later, Henry drove his Mitsubishi motor car in a yard along Grants Pen Avenue when three gunmen opened fire and shot him. He died on the spot.
Deputy Commissioner Lucius Thomas, who is tipped to replace Commissioner Francis Forbes later this month, told the Observer Saturday that among his priorities, should he be given the job, would be a decrease in the number of murders.
