Threat level against cops ‘high’ after gang associate killed
HANOVER, Jamaica — The threat level against police in Hanover remains high after another man, who the police claim is associated with the ‘One Voice’ gang operating in the parish, was fatally shot.
Saturday night’s killing of Winston Swaroop by the police follows that of Omario ‘Duplex’ Burrell, a senior member of the ‘One Voice’ gang on February 3 in an alleged shoot-out with the police.
The Hanover police are alleging that Swaroop was a financier of the gang.
Reports are that shortly after 9:00 pm on Saturday, police officers were on patrol in the Williamsfield, Dias area of the parish when two men on a motorcycle were signalled to stop.
The police say one of the men opened gunfire at them, they returned the fire and the driver of the motorcyce was hit.
The pillion passenger reportedly escaped. It is not clear if he was hurt.
A 9 mm pistol with five rounds was allegedly seized in the incident.
In February, the police had reported that Burrell’s name was called in relation to a triple killing in Williamsfield.
The Williamsfield shootings were separate incidents on January 18. Thirty-four-year-old Hopeton Lee, five-year-old Kimani Johnson and one-year-old Daquan Davidson, all of Williamsfield, were shot and killed.
A senior police officer told the Jamaica Observer that the police have been receiving threats following Burrell’s killing in February.
Meanwhile, a St James man was on Sunday shot and injured by unknown assailants in Hanover.
Reports are that the man, who is on bail, was shot in the community of Hag Bush, Haughton Court at around 3:00 am on Sunday.
The man, who police say is of a ‘criminal character’, was recently released from custody after someone else claimed responsibility for a gun found in a car in which he was travelling last year.