ST JAMES, Jamaica — There is now a call for increased policing in Dumfries, St James after a second double murder, in just under a month, has left residents tense and fearful.

“The police have to get on top of the situation and start doing some tougher policing in the area. Not brutalising, but they have to start doing their checks and the little things you may have let slide before, you have to check up on it,” Councillor Mark McGann (Jamaica Labour Party, Somerton Division) told OBSERVER ONLINE after visiting Canaan, the section of Dumfries where Wednesday’s shooting occurred.

The deceased have been identified as 30-year-old Andre Brown, unemployed and 24-year-old farmer, Romaine Melville.

One resident, who asked not to be identified by name, theorised that the men were cut down as reprisal for an earlier incident in which a woman was shot and injured in the community. They were allegedly shot by men travelling on a motorcycle, who indiscriminately opened gunfire on bystanders after a search of the area did not yield their intended target.

Brown and Melville, who are said to be close friends, were shot multiple times as they stood in the community square. The gunmen escaped leaving their relatives distraught.

While most people were hesitant to talk, one of Melville’s family members spoke about the grief ripping them apart.

“I can’t even tell you how we feel right now, the whole of us mash up right now. From morning I don’t eat anything from I heard the news, and right now I don’t even know what to do,” she said.

Wednesday’s double murder comes after Adolphus Holder and Jevannie Brown were shot and killed at a party in the community on April 16.

Councillor McGann says that recent incidents of violence have left residents petrified.

“The community is on edge right now, it’s a fearful time. People are hurrying home after work and school. Nobody is on the corner anymore, the shops have to be closing early, the bars, no business after a certain time,” he pointed out.

He is concerned about the long-term impact.

“We are a family-oriented community; we play football on a Sunday evening, and swim in the river. So it’s kind of surprising and fearful with the citizens now don’t even want to leave their homes because they don’t know exactly what this is all about,” he explained.

McGann is particularly concerned that other areas of his division have also seen a recent flare-up of violence.

“In under three months we have had three double murders, the other in Somerton plus some other shootings in the space as well,” he pointed out.