Triple murder at Westmoreland bar believed to be gang-related, says police
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Clifford Chambers says he believes Wednesday morning’s triple murder in Frome, Westmoreland is gang-affiliated.
Indicating that one of the victims is known by the police, Chambers said the killings were supposedly a result of a feud between warring factions.
“The information that we have had so far, which has so far been confirmed, is that this is the continuation of a gang dispute involving two of the major gangs which operate in Westmoreland,” ACP Chambers confirmed.
The victims have been identified as 54-year-old broom vendor Everol Rowe, who lived across from the bar and Kemar Smith and Andre McDonald both of Gully Banks in Savanna-la-Mar in the parish.
“One of the persons who has been killed is a person who is known to the police and has been the subject of a major police operation. In fact, he has since been arrested and charged and [was] reporting on condition of bail,” he shared.
The top cop also confirmed that another of the victims was involved in lottery scamming.
“The other person is a known lottery scammer and both are associated with a particular gang in Westmoreland that is in conflict with another,” ACP Chambers told Observer Online, while noting he deliberately chose not to name the warring gangs.
Meanwhile, he said the Frome area has been problematic.
“This area where the incident happened is also an area of concern and has been an area that the police are giving a lot of attention to.
He took the opportunity to appeal to the public to come forward with any information that could help the police in solving Wednesday’s bloody murder and shooting.
Seven persons, including a female were shot at a party being held at a bar. Three persons succumbed to their injuries.
