Members of the security forces in western Kingston have been put on high alert as criminals have reportedly vowed to avenge the death of 34-year-old Kearon “Kadula” Angus, who was fatally shot during a confrontation with a police party on Thursday.

Jamaica Observer sources say criminals linked to Angus, who was wanted for two double murders, have been issuing threats since late Thursday evening as news spread of his demise.

“We are not worried or afraid of the threats of those criminals, but we have said to our members to be alert, and as the security minister has repeatedly underscored, it is a standard use-of-force policy anywhere on the globe, if police come under deadly attack we are entitled to respond,” a senior cop based in the gritty west Kingston division told the Jamaica Observer.

“We will not relent in our fight to rid the streets of west Kingston of these criminals, and we would suggest to Kadula’s cronies that if they are confronted by the police they surrender rather than firing at us, leading to further loss of lives,” added the cop.

On Thursday the police reported that members of a team conducting joint operations with the Jamaica Defence Force in the Studley Park Road area of west Kingston, armed with a search warrant, entered premises where it was believed that Angus had been hiding.

A member of the security team knocked on a door of a house and the cops heard shuffling coming from inside.

The cops reportedly shouted “Police!” after which a member of the team started to open the door.

“As soon as he did so, Angus opened gunfire at the police. The cops returned fire, hitting him in the upper body after which he fell on the floor and a firearm fell beside him.

“The firearm was found to be a black Canik TP9 pistol with one live round. He was taken to Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead,” the police source added.

Angus had been on the police most wanted list since January 2021 when he was identified as the shooter in an incident which left 24-year-old Jenell Thomas and 35-year-old Omar Jarrett dead on Penn Street in Kingston 12.

Before that Angus had been linked to the September 21, 2020 fatal shooting of Michael Francis and Kenroy Gordon on Nassau Road in the vicinity of Angola Park, Kingston 12. Two other men were shot in that incident.

Angus, who was also linked to at least five other shooting incidents, avoided capture when he engaged members of a police team in a shoot-out last year.

He was a regular feature on the constabulary force’s Wanted Wednesdays, which is published on social media.