Residents rattled by raid

Residents of Whitfield Town in St Andrew say they were left shaken and fearful early Wednesday morning after what they initially believed was an armed invasion, as explosions rang out and the sound of running boots echoed through sections of Bowens Road and Stephen Lane.

At first light, it was confirmed that a planned police operation had taken place – one that left two men dead.

According to irate residents, the incident unfolded shortly after 3 a.m., when heavily armed security personnel moved through the area, reportedly kicking off doors and searching homes in what many described as a tense and frightening operation.

Several residents said they initially believed the men were gunmen carrying out coordinated attacks, given the manner in which they moved through the community.

“Dem come in like gunman,” one resident said, describing the confusion and panic before it became clear that the individuals were members of the security forces.

“Dem mask up and a breach premises ... a first mi ever see police come fi man a different place. One dead yasso and the next one kill desso, and dem go over deh so fi next man.”

The operation resulted in the fatal shooting of two men, identified as 23-year-old Camrick ‘Bashy’ Williams and 19-year-old Rushane ‘Grim’ Douglas.

Residents said Douglas was killed along Bowens Road, while Williams was shot on Stephen Lane, both off Waltham Park Road.

One woman recounted that during the operation, a third house was entered and a man was allegedly accosted by armed personnel. However, she said a baby clung tightly to the man’s foot and refused to let go – an act residents believe may have prevented him from also being killed.

In Williams’ case, residents insist he was physically incapable of engaging in any confrontation with police, claiming he walked with the aid of a crutch following a previous shooting incident in which three persons were killed and others injured.

“Dem kick off the door and pull him out,” one resident alleged, maintaining that Williams could barely walk, “much less engage police in a shoot-out”.

Residents further claimed that both Williams and Douglas were known to law enforcement and had recently turned themselves in to police in relation to separate matters before being released — a detail that has deepened their concern about the circumstances of the operation.

Douglas, they said, had previously been taken into custody in connection with the killing of a soldier, but was released approximately one month ago.

Some residents also alleged that members of the security forces had indicated they would “come for them”, though this claim has not been independently verified.

The operation has left sections of the community on edge, with residents expressing fear and uncertainty about future security force activity.

“People haffi a sleep and a look out,” one resident said, reflecting the lingering anxiety.

Up to late Tuesday, police had not released detailed information on the circumstances surrounding the fatal shootings.

However, a senior policeman told The Gleaner that two firearms were seized following the incident.

The police also indicated that both men were aligned to the Kidd Lane gang, with one allegedly operating as a shooter and the other as a keeper of weapons.

Investigators further theorise that Douglas may have been involved in the February 10 killing of Jamaica Defence Force private Daniel Crawford, among other serious crimes.

The Independent Commission of Investigations has since launched a probe and was on location Wednesday morning alongside forensic teams processing the scenes.

As at April 14, a total of 91 people have been killed in encounters with security forces since the start of the year, including 15 in April alone.

Investigations are ongoing.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com