A 41-year-old woman and her 23-year-old daughter were shot dead by gunmen in Spanish Town, St Catherine, yesterday as a conflict among members of the notorious Klansman gang intensified.

According to the police, Erica Simmons and her daughter Peta-Gay Bunda were attacked and shot by a group of men just mere metres from their homes. The incident occurred at approximately 11:00 am.

The police said the women were relatives of Jermaine Morrison, otherwise know as “Speedy”, who was shot and killed at the corner of Young Street by men travelling in a motor car on Monday. Morrison, the police said, was a senior member of the notorious gang.

“It is an internal or intra-gang rivalry between the members. Tesha Miller (reputed head of the gang) is now in jail so the others are fighting over who must control which turf,” explained Superintendent Anthony Castell, who heads the St Catherine North Police Division that includes Spanish Town.

Following yesterday’s incident, several persons were seen fleeing the community. Others said they would follow suit.

“Right now a move me a move out a the area; a crazy war a gwaan,” said a woman as she packed her belongings into a waiting motor car.

“Murder dem a murder we off, we want the police to come deal with this,” bawled one woman.

“A pure madness a gwaan inna the area, yuh nuh see a kill dem waan kill we off,” said another woman, who claimed she witnessed the brutal attack.

During the mad rush to leave the community, several young students — traumatised by the incident — cried openly.

Yesterday’s double murder occurred despite curfews imposed on March Pen Road as well as Dallas Lane and De la Vega City.

Several men have been detained in the curfews. However, the police said they were still searching for Nevardo Hodges also called “Dee Jay”, and Rowell Jennings who also goes by the name “Jay Jay” who they want to question in connection with Morrison’s killing.