With nightly shootings, a somewhat fresh triple murder that rocked the community a month ago, and tension and fear blanketing the community up to this day, residents say Bedward Gardens in St Andrew is longer a bed of roses.

In line with reports from Superintendent William Kessler of the St Andrew Central Division that there are repeated trade-offs of gunshots between thugs because of a presumed gang war between the Bedward Gardens Gang and Colour Red Gang, also known as the Gaza Gang, residents complained bitterly to the Jamaica Observer about the situation in their community.

Last week, Kessler said the police would be clamping down on the criminal elements affecting the area.

“We have shootings nightly in the Bedward Gardens area and we believe that it is the gangs at each other. However, we are relentless and there are several major operations in trend for these culprits. I’m going to lead one of the biggest military police manhunts for these persons because most of them are properly wanted in relation to that triple murder,” he said.

Since the start of the year, there have been 30 murders and 23 shootings in the St Andrew Central Police Division.

“It is unbearable now. It is very unbearable…every night. Pure shootings and war and running up and down. We need a change. We need something to happen round here in Bedward Gardens because we are sick and tired,” one woman who lives in Bedward Gardens told the Sunday Observer.

“You can’t walk at night so you hurry up and try do things in the days. Shops and the little trying businesspeople have to be locking shop early. Nobody don’t want get caught up in anything and lose them life.”

Though multiple shootings were noted, Kessler clarified, however, that there have been no murders in the community since the triple killing.

“They (gangs) are at each other nightly creating mayhem, causing a lot of the residents to be really afraid. Even the security forces are afraid. However, we are relentless in pursuing them and bringing them to justice. In many occasions, the police and the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) are in the middle. And the terrain is not of such, so it is very risky for our military personnel and police officers out there.”

Another resident, a 28-year-old man, told the Sunday Observer: “We know this did a go happen. Remember me myself tell Observer that this was going to happen after the triple murder. We tell the people them that you soon hear ‘bout reprisals and hear that innocent people get caught up. It nuh surprising. It only said that we don’t see it big in the news unless people dead. Nobody not talking that we fear for our lives. We have to dead first.”

The triple murder jolted residents in the wee hours of Saturday, April 30. Reports are that about 4:00 am, thugs pounced upon 24-year-old Rasheed “Buppy” Edwards, 18-year-old Keno “Brains” Wray, and their friend who was identified as “Jackson” at a shop in the community.

Police were alerted and when they arrived, Edwards, Wray, and Jackson were discovered lying outside the shop — a dirt track vicinity near a football field — with gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at hospital.

The police had released 10 names of persons of interest they said may assist them in investigations. Last week, Kessler revealed that two of those 10 people reported to the police, were questioned and provided “useful information.”

On Saturday, May 28, Kevon “Trigga” Wright, 26, an engineer from August Town Road, St Andrew, was charged with the murder of Wray, Edwards and Jackson after a question-and-answer session with his attorney.

Wright was charged with wounding with intent, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

The owner of the shop where the three men had stopped to make purchases told the Sunday Observer that the lack of street lights also contribute to the fear among residents.

“We don’t have any street light round on our block. That makes the place more tense now with all that is happening. You can’t really see what happens outside after a certain time. It has always been like that. From I care here, we had no street light.”

Another resident applauded the police for their efforts thus far but demanded more urgency in taming the gangs wreaking havoc in the community.

“Imagine how fed up we are. Imagine the children too. We want the police to stay on top of this and not just give us a nine-day talk. We know them a work and investigate, but we just a remind them that it is grimy right now.”