NESTER “Zaddo” Gallimore was only 25 years old when he was killed in a reported shoot-out with members of the police-military team in Barrett Town, St James, last Saturday, but even at that young age he had already earned the reputation of one of the most ruthless killers in the parish.

Gallimore was at the top of the St James police most wanted list, and along with his trusted lieutenant, 19-year-old Jadane “Brown Chaps” Henry, was linked to several murders and shootings.

Jadane and his brother Javaughn Henry were also killed in the alleged shoot-out with the members of the security forces last Saturday.

On Tuesday, senior police sources told the Jamaica Observer that since the death of the three men, several people who reportedly witnessed shootings involving Gallimore and his cronies have now come forward with information on their criminal activities.

According to the sources, Gallimore had been the subject of numerous intelligence-led operations as in recent weeks he and his cronies had become a serious threat to safety and peace of civilian life in the St James Police Division.

Gallimore had been linked to the March 13, 2019 killing of Ryan Martin, otherwise called Bag Juice; the April 16, 2023 fatal shooting of Adolphus Holder, otherwise called Gold Ball, and Jevannie Gordon; and the May 10, 2023 killing of Andrew Brown and Ramone Melville in Adelphi, also in St James.

In that May 10 incident, it was reported that Melville and Brown were standing with two other men along Canaan District main road in Adelphi when Gallimore and Jadane Henry road up on a bike. The pillion pulled a rifle and opened fire on the men, hitting Melville and Brown before escaping. An eyewitness later identified Gallimore as the shooter.

He had also been linked to several other shootings, including a January 18, 2019 attack on a policeman for which he was charged and offered bail by the court.

Gallimore was also believed to be among a group of men who shot four people during an incident in St James on March 13, 2019.

Since news spread of Gallimore’s death the police have received information that he was involved in the 2021 killing of a municipal police and his uncle, and the May 18 gun attack at a shop in Bogue Village in St James which left two men dead and two others nursing gunshot wounds.

The deceased in that incident were identified as 30-year-old Jermaine Miller of Marine Circle in Bogue Village, and a man so far identified only as Tall Man.

“Investigators are also trying to verify a claim that Zaddo was involved in the murder of Andrea Hanson, a businesswoman and law student, who was shot shortly after arriving at her business place in Tucker, St James, last week,” said an Observer source.

“The investigators will try to tidy up the probe into these five murders by reaching back out to the witnesses who saw and were willing to talk but not to give a statement,” added the source.

On May 11, the St James police announced that they had listed Gallimore and another man, Tevin Lawson, otherwise called Bruk Hand, of Katan Lane in the parish as persons of interest and gave them 24 hours to report to the St James Criminal Investigations Branch.

Days later the Joint Anti-Gang Taskforce issued a statement on the police social media pages warning Gallimore that they were coming for him.

The finally caught up with him in Spot Valley, Barrett Town, with the confrontation ending in his death.

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is probing the incident.