A double murder in Brown’s Town, St Ann made up the list of four persons savagely murdered on the weekend.

The murders have, however, left residents calling for swift action from the police in light of what they are describing as a recent upsurge in violent activities in the usually quiet community.

On Saturday night, thugs crept up on the two St Ann residents, Desmond Black, 42, taxi operator of Sommerton district and Wayne Dyer, 30, otherwise called ‘Waynie’ of Orange Hill, who were among a group of men playing card in the Brown’s Town market and shot them both in their head and upper body, killing them on the spot.

These killings follow closely of the heels of last Wednesday’s shooting death of 19-year-old Timothy Reid who was shot multiple times by armed men near the Brown’s Town Primary School and a gun battle between gunmen in Brown’s Town on September 22.

However, Saturday night’s incident has left many residents concerned and in fear as they believe that the perpetrators are men from outside the area who are seeking refuge in their community.

Among those expressing concerns is councillor for the area, Delroy Redway who told the Jamaica Observer that he was deeply concerned and troubled by the recent violent incidents in his division.

“I want to see something happening to curb it before it reaches crisis level,” Redway said. “Brown’s Town is not used to this type of upheaval and we want some concerted effort to address it before the area becomes another hot spot.”

Commanding officer for St Ann, Superintendent Dudley Scott, however, sought to assure residents that the police were aware of their concerns and that measures are being implemented to address the issue.

“We are putting plans in place to treat with the situation,” said Scott, adding that the police was in communication with their counterparts in St Catherine where it is believed that the persons responsible for the criminal activities reside.

He said the police have already increased their presence in the area and that more police operations will be undertaken.

Also on Saturday night in Mavis Bank, St Andrew, a 50-year-old businesswoman, Vinette Nixon, was chopped and killed at her home. According to police reports, residents heard cries coming from her home about 9:00 pm and later found Nixon in a pool of blood in a room at the back of her premises.

The Mavis Bank Police Station were at Observer press time appealing to Nixon’s husband to report to the police for questioning in relation to the incident.

The weekend was also marred by the road death of an elderly man and two fires in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland.

The senior citizen, Ransford Anglin, 64, otherwise called ‘Danny’, of New Ground in Lime Hall, St Ann died after he was hit by a motor vehicle on the Drax Hall Main road. The driver has since been warned for prosecution.

And a six-apartment dwelling was destroyed in a blaze in Bull Savannah, St Elizabeth about 1:00 am yesterday. An electrical short circuit was blamed.

The other fire, which is believed to have been caused by a lit candle, destroyed a four-apartment board dwelling on Hermitage Road, Red Ground in Westmoreland about 55 minutes later. Loss is estimated at $1.5 million but it is uncertain if the house was insured.

— Additional reporting by Alesia Edwards