MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Police in Manchester are on high alert following threats of reprisals for Sunday’s deadly shooting which claimed the lives of two women and injured three others, including a child.

In the incident, which allegedly involved a licensed firearm holder, five people were shot during a dispute at a candlelight vigil stemming from a motor vehicle collision on Nashville Road off Levy Lane in Mandeville.

Police and relatives named the deceased as 35-year-old Aldeen Dixon, a resident of Coleyville district in north-east Manchester, and 42-year-old Stacy Ann Mulgrave, a resident of Barnstable district (near Mandeville).

Police said the incident occurred near midnight after the 50-year-old licensed firearm holder parked his car in an open lot that is next to his house. Police said the lot separates the man’s house from the house where the candle light vigil was being hosted.

The man reportedly saw his car being hit by another vehicle, leading to an argument and confrontation. It is further alleged that the firearm holder opened fire. When the smoke cleared, five people were found shot.

The gunshot victims were taken to hospital where the two women succumbed and two others admitted for treatment. A 12-year-old boy, who was reportedly also injured during the shooting, was treated and released from hospital.

The licensed firearm holder reportedly turned himself in at the Mandeville police station. Up to Jamaica Observer press time on Sunday, he remained in custody pending further investigation.

When the Observer visited the scene midafternoon on Sunday there was a sombre mood as relatives of the victims gathered around. Police are also maintaining a presence in the area to stem reported threats of reprisals.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester Central Rhoda Crawford on Sunday morning told journalists that a member of her constituency executive is related to the people who were shot.

“It is very shocking, very unfortunate. Adeka Miller, the councillor/caretaker for the Knockpatrick Division was at the vigil last night. He is close family to the deceased. I woke up to messages telling me about the incident minutes after 4:00 am. Immediately I reached out to the commanding officer for the parish to get an understanding of what transpired. I have since spoken to persons who were here to get an account, and then I decided to come visit the family,” she said.

The Jamaica Labour Party MP was careful to point out that crime statistics for Manchester were trending down.

“The police presence is comforting to members of the community. What has happened here is just very sad and unfortunate for more reasons than one… If you have been following the news, you would see that in terms of the reductions in major crimes Manchester has been doing very well this year. We were off to a very good start. We are down to a 53 per cent reduction in major crimes and until this incident we had only had one murder and that was the result of a domestic dispute,” she said.

She is urging constituents to find amicable means to resolve disputes.

“The investigations are still at the early stage. What I know is that the police are still gathering information and eyewitness reports to be better able to give a fulsome report of what has transpired.

“I want to use the opportunity to appeal to residents, to constituents, to Jamaicans in general that we must find better ways to resolve our conflicts. Many of the incidents that have resulted in murders and shootings and serious injury could have very well been avoided if we use better approaches to deal with our conflicts,” she added.

Said Crawford: “I have spoken to the family. They are very angry, they are very hurt, because they were here preparing to put to rest a family member, and four of the five people [shot] are their family members.”

Nashville Road in Mandeville, where five people were shot, two fatally, in an alleged dispute. (Kasey Williams)

A piece of the police scene tape in the vicinity of where five people were shot, two fatally, on Nashville Road in Mandeville on Sunday morning. (Kasey Williams)