ST Andrew North police are planning to increase their presence in the Park Lane area of Red Hills Road following a double murder in the community yesterday afternoon.

Acknowledging that the attack could fuel reprisal shootings, anti-crime boss for the division, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Altermoth “Parra” Campbell told the Sunday Observer that his team would attempt to defuse the situation before it exploded.

“We are always prepared for reprisals and we will be trying to defuse the situation. We plan to flood the place with police,” he said.

“We also plan to hunt the perpetrators of this crime with the hope that they don’t put up any resistance that would cause any injuries to any member of the police,” said Campbell.

The killings occurred shortly after 4:30 pm and the dead men have been identified as ‘Bookie Steve’, who is said to be a “community leader”, and Tolo Stevenson, both residents of the area.

“We understand that they were playing games at a premises in the community when a group of men walked up and opened fire, killing them,” said Campbell.

According to the DSP, the attack is believed to have sprung from a rift over ownership of a recently constructed bar in the area.

“There was a long-standing conflict between a group of men in the area over the bar and as a result there was a split between members of the group,” he said.

“One set of the men were forced to leave the area by another set and it is suspected that it is these men who came back and carried out the attack.”

Park Lane — the stomping ground for gangsters who for years have been at loggerheads with factions from neighbouring 100 Lane —has been relatively peaceful since the start of the year. In light of this, Campbell has repeatedly praised the efforts of members of the community in assisting the police.

Yesterday, he said he was relying on their continued support to quell the latest feud.