CHRISTOPHER Williams, 25, said to be a member of the Spanish Town-based Clansman gang, was Monday cut down by gunman in what the police believe is the fight for leadership of the group following the police slaying of the notorious Donovan “Bulbie” Bennett.

The police reported Williams was at home in Cumberland, Portmore, St Catherine at about 2:45 pm when a man armed with a handgun entered through an open door, then opened fire, hitting Williams several times. The gunman escaped in a waiting motor car.

Investigators from the St Catherine homicide team said yesterday that they were seeking a man, known only as “Roderick”, for questioning in connection with the shooting of Williams.

The St Catherine South police, who are carrying out investigations, believe that Williams was in a feud with fellow gang members who wanted him killed to eliminate him from the race for leadership of the notorious gang which has been running one of the largest extortion rackets in Spanish Town and linked to several murders in the old capital.

A police officer, who asked that his named not be used with the story, said Williams, who is originally from Spanish Town, was staying at Cumberland.

Members of the gang, he said, have been jostling for its leadership, but the officer warned that gang members found in Portmore would be held by the police, “and taken out if necessary”.

Bennett, who led the gang for 10 years, was shot dead by the police in a shootout at his hillside mansion in Tanaky, Clarendon, in October. Bennett, who had amassed wealth of more than $100 million from the extortion racket he ran in Spanish Town, was wanted by the police for more than 80 murders.

In an unrelated killing, the body of a man was found with gunshot wounds on Salt Pond Road in Spanish Town Tuesday morning. He was identified as Elong Miller, 23, of Flynch Crescent, Kingston 6. Salt Pond Road is one of the areas where members of the Clansman gang operate.

According to the Constabulary Communication Network, at about 11:00 am residents called the police after hearing gunshots in the area. Miller’s body was subsequently discovered on the Salt Pond Road. The body was removed to the morgue for post mortem. No motive has yet been ascertained for the killing.