DELANO Waite, 26, the man police say is East Kingston’s most wanted criminal, was killed yesterday by members of a joint police party in the McGregor Gully area of the community, prompting celebrations by some residents.

Waite, otherwise called “Delly Bop”, was wanted for multiple murders, shootings and robberies, committed mainly in the Kingston Eastern and Kingston Central divisions of the capital, according to Assan Thompson, the commanding officer for the Kingston Eastern Division.

The police say that at about 11:15 am yesterday, a joint operation carried out by members of the Mobile Reserve, Special Anti-Crime Task Force (SACTF) and units from the Kingston Eastern police division, acting on intelligence, spotted three men in the McGregor Gully area of the community.

According to the police, the men pulled guns and opened fire on the lawmen who returned the gunfire. Police said that after the gunfight it was discovered that one of the men, who they later identified as Waite, was shot. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A Taurus 9mm pistol, with serial number TUC28613, with a magazine containing 10 rounds, was taken from Waite, the police said. One spent shell, the police said, was found jammed in the breach of the pistol.

“Had it not been for the jamming of the pistol, it is safe to say that police officers would have been injured,” Thompson said.

The police, up to late yesterday, were searching the area for another of the gunmen whom they believed was also hit in the gunfight.

Yesterday, Superintendent Thompson attributed the demise of Waite to careful and strategic planning, pointing out that cops had intensified their search for the man who was on top of the constabulary’s Most Wanted list.

“Because of the intelligence we gathered, we were able to plan the operation in the McGregor Gully area of the city,” he said.

Among the crime that the notorious Waite was linked to was last month’s shooting spree in Franklyn Town, East Kingston, which left five people dead.

Officers also believe he was a key player in a deadly gang feud in McIntyre Villa, which has since August last year left more than 20 people dead.

Superintendent Thompson, who believes residents were helping to shield criminals in the community, sounded a warning yesterday.

“We are issuing a warning to residents of East Kingston not to harbour criminals. Anyone found to be in this kind of practice will be subject to the full course of the law,” the police superintendent said.