MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Tension and fear have resurfaced among residents of Greenvale after a taxi operator was killed, his mother wounded and four of his relatives, including three children, left traumatised during a gun attack on Tuesday.

To prevent any further violence in the area, the Manchester police on Wednesday imposed a curfew in Greenvale, located just a mile west of the Mandeville town centre.

“Information has so far revealed that the recent spate of violent crimes in the community is because of interpersonal disputes between rival gangsters,” a police source said.

The 48-hour curfew, which began at 6:00 pm on Wednesday and is scheduled to continue until 6:00 pm on Friday, October 13, was imposed in Greenvale and affecting areas between Gabby Street, Texas Street and Dunsinane.

Police identified the victim of the gun attack on Tuesday as Gregory Sutherland, 36, otherwise called “Greg”, a taxi operator of Big Head Street in Greenvale.

According to the police, about 7:00 pm Tuesday, Sutherland was driving his taxi with his relatives as passengers to their home when two gunmen alighted from bushes opening fire on the vehicle.The Jamaica Observer was told that the gunmen attacked the family mere metres from their house in the Scott’s Town area in Greenvale.“Two men jumped out the bush and shot out the tyres first, so Greg couldn’t drive off. Then they open fire on him in the driver’s seat. He came out the car and all when him drop a ground dem still a shoot him,” a source said.

Sutherland’s mother was shot in the chest and foot while the other passengers escaped injury. The injured were taken to hospital where Sutherland was pronounced dead and his mother admitted in serious but stable condition.

A police source said investigators are examining several theories into the murder including the possibility of it being a reprisal.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said she is worried about crime in Greenvale.

“We need more than those who are in the community to help. We want the prime minister to come because we are living in fear,” she said.

Meanwhile, residents of Bethel Town, Gabby Street and lower sections of Greenvale feel they are being punished for crimes committed in Top Greenvale.

“We tired a it [curfew] and we nah do nutten,” a resident of Bethel Street told the Observer on Wednesday.

“All the while things happen in Top Greenvale and we down here so at [lower] Greenvale suffer the consequence,” another resident chimed in.

Shopkeepers in the community said they continuously suffer losses due to heightened security measures in the community.

“The curfew is too long and at 6:00 pm people just coming in from work and a come a shop come buy dem little food and we have to lock up. Every time people dead a Greenvale police run come [impose] curfew, so when it done weh dem think ago happen?” a shopkeeper asked.