There is heightened tension and police presence in Craig Town, St Andrew, following the killing of a man said to be the father of a gang leader from the community.

The deceased, identified by police as 61-year-old Vincent Lyons, otherwise called ‘Shortman’ or ‘McCalla’, a bar operator from the area, was shot dead near his business place on Sunday.

Lyons, lawmen have revealed, is the father of Rusheed Lyons, who is being sought in connection with gang-related activities in the community. The younger Lyons, the police said, is the alleged leader of the notorious 110 gang.

The 110 and Gaza gangs, located in the said community, have staged a bloody turf war over recent months, resulting in several murders and shootings.

Reports indicated that around 8:00 pm, the senior Lyons was standing along the roadway talking to a friend when he was pounced upon by men armed with guns. The men opened fire, hitting him in the upper body.

While trying to escape he collapsed inside a nearby premises. Police, who were quick on the scene, assisted Lyons to the Kingston Public Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment.

Police said 14 spent casings were found after they processed the crime scene.

The police believed Vincent Lyons’ killing would have brought heavy reprisals and as such the lawmen have imposed a 48-hour curfew in the community.

The police have also listed 11 men from the area as persons of interest. The police said these men could help with their investigations into the ongoing war.

The men are being asked to report to the Denham Town Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB) by 6:00 pm Tuesday.