MOVED by the suffering and pleas of displaced residents of the blood-drenched Kingston community of Common, police from the Major Investigation Task Force have vowed to go on the offensive and bring an end to the murder and mayhem.

In 10 weeks, 25 persons have been murdered in the depressed community off Red Hills Road in St Andrew, resulting from gang warfare, said Assistant Commissioner Les Green, head of the Task Force.

“The situation in Common is horrendous. We are going on the offensive to ensure that life returns to normal for the decent citizens of that community,” Green told the Observer.

“We cannot have a situation where people are fleeing their homes. This must stop and we will go to the necessary lengths to maintain the rule of law,” said Green, his face a mask of concern.

Green blamed the continuing violence and tension on the self-destruction of a gang based in the area, beginning on the morning of November 30 when disgruntled gang members turned their guns on their former cronies, killing one man and injuring four others, including influential community member, Donovan ‘Cassie’ Downer.

By the end of the day, three others were shot dead and two more injured. Since then an all-out battle for turf has gripped the community and police said life had been seriously disrupted for several residents who had been forced to flee their homes and take their children out of school out of fear for their lives.

“The criminals have looted some persons’ homes and made off with their belongings after ordering them to leave the area or face the consequences,” one cop said. “Many persons have been forced out and the gang members are now demanding rent from persons who occupy the empty dwellings. Some children can’t go to school,” he said.

Police said they had since received reports that teenagers of both sexes were being recruited as active gang members.

In the continuing saga, police two Sundays ago intercepted a vehicle heading towards the Dovecot Memorial Park near Spanish Town for the funeral of Gary ‘Lick Shot’ Smith who, along with Ronald Mitchell, was killed in early January during an attack at a betting shop at a plaza on Red Hills Road. The police searched the vehicle and its occupants and a man wanted for several murders and shootings was held.

Police also seized an illegal firearm during the operation and said later that over 24 crimes had been linked to the firearm and the wanted man whose name has been withheld pending police checks.

The man’s arrest brought to four the number of men arrested for murders committed in connection with the gang war raging in Common.

Police said they were also looking for Javaughn Roberts, also known as ‘Jav’, Ian Simpson, also known as ‘Giant’, Denver Pink, and three men known as Lukong, Joe Joe and Eric, in their investigation of several murders and shootings connected to the gang war in the garrison community.