Glenroy Sinclair and Howard Campbell, Gleaner Reporters
THE POLICE say they have made no arrests in the two double murders that took place in central Kingston Saturday night and Sunday morning.
"We are still investigating; we have definite leads but there are no arrests as yet," said Deputy Superintendent Doric Sinclair of the Kingston Central Police Division.
The first incident happened at 11:45 p.m. at the intersection of Alexander Street and Burke Lane where a wake was in progress. Shane Cooke, 28, and Dwayne Plummer, 23, who were at the wake, were reportedly shot by gunmen who confronted them.
Cooke, of Malvern Avenue, and Plummer, who lived on Victoria Avenue, both Kingston addresses, were pronounced dead at the Kingston Public Hospital.
COUPLE TRICKED
Five hours later, a husband and wife were murdered at nearby Cleveland Road.
The couple, 40-year-old Noel Cohen and 28-year-old Shannete Cohen, were shot by two gunmen, one of whom reportedly knocked on the door to the home, pretending to be Mrs. Cohen's father.
The couple's three children two girls and a boy were unharmed.
Reports are that Cohen's death was a reprisal for the killing of Plummer and Cooke. The Gleaner was advised that the incident started Saturday night after a man who was threatened had to flee the area with his young child. Plummer and Cooke were accused as the persons responsible for the action.
REPRISAL ATTACK
The unnamed man was believed to be behind the attack and, therefore, the Cohens who are believed to be his relatives, were killed in a reprisal attack.
"There are indications that this might be true," said Deputy Superintendent Michael Ellis, the crime officer for the Kingston East Division.
Yesterday when The Gleaner visited Alexander Street and Burke Lane few persons were on the road. Those who ventured outdoors were in shock at the tragic events that had played out 48 hours before.
"Me waan move bad before now but dis mek mi waan move even more," said one woman, who said she has lived in the area for 14 years.
The scene was similar at Cleveland Road, a dead-end stretch that neighbours the St. Michael's Anglican Church. Neighbours remembered the Cohens as 'peaceable' and 'friendly'. One man, who opted not to give his name said the daybreak shooting was the first of its kind in some time.
Both communities belong to the Southside region of the Central Kingston constituency where there have been intermittent bursts of gang conflict during the past three years.
Up to yesterday, at least 60 persons have been reported murdered over the past 13 days, pushing the country's homicide rate to 774, which is 188 more murders committed within the corresponding period last year.
Last week 32 persons were murdered, while the previous week's figure stood at 50. Most of the killings have taken place in the St. Andrew South Police Division, which accounted for 135 murders. They are followed by St. Catherine North with 101 murders, St. James 75 and the Kingston East Division 73.
