SOE declared in east Kingston after mass shooting at Rockfort football game
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A state of public emergency (SOE) has been declared in Rockfort and its surrounding areas within the Kingston East Division.
This follows the fatal shooting of five people at a football match in Rockfort on Monday evening.
The SOE was declared after thorough assessments by the security forces which indicated that the elevated levels of violent criminal activity within the designated areas were of such severity and scale that they pose a significant threat to public safety, according to a government release.
The boundaries of the state of public emergency are defined as follows:
West: On the western side, the boundary extends in a northerly direction from the intersection of Michael Manley Boulevard and South Camp Road, then continues north-easterly along Vineyard Road then on to the end of Diana Drive;
North: The northern boundary extends in an easterly direction from Diana Drive to Lexington Avenue, then on to Deanery Road to the intersection to Mountain View Avenue. The boundary then extends easterly along an imaginary irregular line to the shared parish border of St Andrew and St Thomas;
East: The eastern boundary extends in a southerly direction along the shared parish border of St Andrew and St Thomas to the coast; and
South: The southern boundary extends westerly along the coast of St Andrew, then along the Kingston coastline to the intersection of South Camp Road and Michael Manley Boulevard.
Commenting on the declaration of the SOE, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, “Sunday night’s murders in Rockfort have shocked the nation. We have taken decisive steps to safeguard the lives of our citizens and prevent further acts of organised violence. The Government, in close coordination with the security forces, is committed to taking the urgent steps to restore order and ensure the safety of the affected residents.”
“The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. This act of terror in Rockfort is a grave threat to the peace of our nation, and we will not allow criminal elements to destabilise our communities. The security forces have been fully mobilised, and we will use all available resources to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore calm,” added Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang.
