ELEVEN persons died by the gun, including three by police bullets, in the first two days of the New Year, as the Grim Reaper set a blistering start to 2010.

Although yesterday was relatively calm up to Observer press time last night, the 11 deaths had already surpassed the six reported in the first three days of 2009, based on police reports.

The latest murder is that of 44-year-old taxi driver, Norris Williams of Birdsucker Lane, in St Andrew, whom police say was operating his Toyota Corolla motor car about 9:23 pm in the Pinkneys Green community, when explosions were heard and a man seen running from the vehicle.

Residents found Williams’ body slumped over the steering wheel. The police were summoned and processed the crime scene before removing Williams’ body to the morgue.

Thirty minutes before that incident, homicide investigators were called to the scene in Waterford, St Catherine where the unidentified body of a woman was found.

Police responding to a call from residents who heard explosions, found the woman’s lifeless body with several bullet wounds. The woman is believed to be about 27 years old, of brown complexion, medium build and about five feet six inches tall. Her body was clad in blue jeans pants, floral blouse and orange slippers.

• Dave Henry was at his home Saturday in the hotbed community of Norwood in St James when he was attacked and peppered with bullets. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

• Joel Johnson, who lived in Pleasant Hill, St Mary, was murdered about 2:00

am Saturday morning at Lissant Road in Kingston. Police were again summoned to the community after residents reported hearing explosions. Johnson’s body was found on the road with several gunshot wounds. He died on the spot.

• Head of Operations in the Constabulary, Glenmore Hinds told the Observer that the

Police High Command had launched an investigation into all aspects of the recent

Black and White Party which was held at the National Arena on New Year’s Eve and

ended in the death of 31-year-old Patrick McDonald.

McDonald, also called ‘Kingman’, of Brooklyn Avenue, Cromarty, St Catherine, was shot four times in the head as he attempted to leave the popular dance. Reports are that he had a tiff with other patrons earlier and was targeted as he left. Police say McDonald was a major player in the ‘Lynch Mob’ gang which has been creating havoc in sections of St Catherine. He was also wanted in connection with several shooting incidents involving the police in that parish.

• Michael Thomas, 29, of Comfort in Manchester is also listed among the New Year’s

weekend dead. Thomas was involved in a dispute with a group of men on New Year’s morning. The men drew guns and shot him. He was taken to the Mandeville Regional Hospital where medical staff pronounced him dead.

• Twenty-two-year-old Ricardo Goulbourne of Spring Village, Old Harbour, St Catherine was the first recorded death for the year. Police say five minutes into the New Year,

Goulbourne was at home with a female companion when he was called outside by a man

who opened fire hitting him. He was taken to hospital where he died while being treated. The female escaped unhurt.

• An unidentified man who shot and killed 24-year-old Tajay Richards of Cassia Crescent, Kingston 11 and injured a 10-year-old boy of a St Catherine address at Grape Road, Olympic Gardens, Kingston 11 on Saturday, was beaten and handed over to the police by residents.

The police say Richards was at a play field in the community when the gunman attacked him. During the melee the child was shot. Richards tried to make his escape but was chased and shot several times.

Angry residents then held the gunman and beat him before handing him over to cops. All

three were taken to the hospital were Richards was pronounced dead and the boy and gunman admitted in hospital.

• The Bureau of Special Investigations is also probing the fatal shootings of George Francis otherwise called ‘Bad Dog’, 30, of Halse Hall and Robert Clarke otherwise called ‘Bobby’ of Nelson Street, May Pen, both in Clarendon.

Francis met his demise after cops raided premises he occupied looking for guns and

ammunition. During the search of a room by the lawmen, Francis allegedly grabbed a firearm and pointed it at the cops who shot him. A shotgun with the serial number erased was taken from him. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

In the second incident, a joint police-military team were patrolling and responded to explosions heard in the Nelson Street area. On their arrival, the lawmen report that they saw Clarke with a firearm in his hand running to the back of a premises. The officers gave chase but say he turned and pointed the gun at them and was shot.

A Taurus 9mm pistol with a magazine containing 16 9mm cartridges was taken from him. Clarke was pronounced dead at the May Pen Hospital.

• Anthony Richards, 26, mason of Alligator Pond, Manchester, was reportedly shot in an alleged exchange with policemen who went to investigate a robbery call during annual New Year festivities in the community.

The security forces also seized a firearm and ammunition at Georges Lane in downtown

Kingston on Saturday night. The police say they were on patrol in the area when they saw a man run onto a premises. The man eluded them but a search of the area yielded a Taurus 9mm pistol with a magazine containing 20 9mm cartridges.