KINGSTON, Jamaica – Head of the St Andrew South police, acting Senior Superintendent Damion Manderson says a gang feud is behind Monday evening’s murder of two people, including a two-year-old boy, on Grenmeade Road in Maverley, St Andrew.

“From all our information thus far we can say that this is stemming from a gang conflict within the Maverley space that is spanning years of feud between top and bottom Maverley, between men from Grendmeade and those from other roads within the community,” Manderson told journalists.

“This of course comes at a very unfortunate time because we have been working with this community, with over six months since the last incident taking place in the community, [but] this will not deter us because our partnership and engagement with the stakeholders and members of the community is ongoing,” he added.

Police have named two suspects in the murders, namely Courtney Ashley, otherwise called “Bloodstain” and a man known as “Miller”, otherwise called “Max”. Ashley, who is the St Andrew South police’s most wanted, is said to be on the run for several murders and shootings.

READ: Most wanted named as suspect in Maverley double murder

The two suspects are being asked to turn themselves over to the Hunts Bay Criminal Investigations Branch by 6:00 pm Wednesday.

Two-year-old Tajuan Jackson and Kimarley Powell, 25, otherwise called “Beans”, a business operator from Grenmeade Road in Maverley, were shot dead by gunmen as they sat at the entrance to a premises in the community.

Another man was shot and injured during the incident and has since been hospitalised.

It is understood that around 7:15 pm, the three were sitting on a board bench when a white Nissan AD wagon drove into the lane, passed where they sat, and proceeded to the end of the road.

The vehicle turned, drove and stopped where they were, and the occupants opened fire at them, hitting all three.
Residents rushed them to the hospital, where doctors pronounced Jackson and Powell dead. The other man was admitted in serious condition.

The police are asking anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ashley and Miller to contact Crime Stop at 311, police emergency at 911, the Jamaica Constabulary Force tip-line at 811 or the nearest police station.