COMMUNITY members in Belle Air, St Ann, have shied away from commenting publicly on the recent killing of a pregnant woman and the wounding of a man in ‘Crocodile City’ there, recently.

Except for one individual who agreed to speak but asked not to be named, residents insisted that for their safety they will remain quiet about the incident which they shrugged off as common assault in that part of town.

“I wasn’t here, I went to [a next parish] to work. I never hear nothing,” one woman said, as she hurriedly hung her clothes on the line.

“Yuh can ask ‘round still”, she added.

According to police reports, the dead woman, Melissa Nelson, and two men were at home on April 8 when fire was observed coming from a section of the house. The occupants reportedly went to check and were fired upon by a gunman who later made his escape in the community.

Nelson and one of the men were rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead and the man admitted in serious condition. The third occupant escaped unharmed.

The police have since said they have identified a person of interest.

When the

Jamaica Observer North & East team visited the community last Wednesday only one resident was bold enough to speak about the incident.

“Mi coulda get catch inna it because a mi and mi woman did a come in when it happen, you see weh mi a seh? Just as mi reach in and go bed it happen. A bout seven shot ring off,” the resident said.

The resident explained that the area has gradually become a “dangerous” one, noting that several killings had taken place there.

“Dem nuh call it dark lane fi no reason enuh. A whole heap a gun ‘round here, whole heap. More time mi think to myself fi put in a floodlight but I don’t want to inconvenience all who want to remain in the dark; you get me?,” the resident said with a slight grin.

The victims,

North & East was told, were virtual unknowns to community members as they always remained inside their house. Knocks on the gate went unanswered by occupants who were seen there.

“As yuh can see when yuh go ‘round there, the yard batten up tight, tight. So mi a think the man dem couldn’t get in so a so comes dem light the house fi get them out,” the resident said, noting that it was not clear how long the victims were living in the community.

Taxi operators have since indicated that they will not be making any pickups or drop-offs in that section of the community the resident said.

“Imagine me live ‘round here and taximan a warn me nuffi come ‘round here. Dem seh dem not coming. You affi laugh when a man can warn you ‘bout weh you live. Mi nuh too ‘fraid still; God mi put mi trust in,” the resident said.

In the meantime, the police are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to make a report.