Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
A RESURGENCE of a bloody turf war between rival gangs in the volatile August Town community in St. Andrew has left one man dead and dozens of students of the August Town Primary School traumatised.
The latest bout of gang warfare has claimed the life of 22 year-old Carlos Ascot, who was murdered by gunmen along the Goldsmith Villa Road on Wednesday night during sporadic shooting which lasted for about 20 minutes.
Head of the St. Andrew Central Police Division, Senior Superintendent George Quallo, told The Gleaner last night that another man was also shot and injured in the "Jungle 12" area.
"Right now we are putting in place measures to prevent any reprisal or recurrence," said SSP Quallo, who was in the community until late yesterday.
A teacher at the August Town Primary School, who spoke with The Gleaner, said the violent incidents since January have been impacting on students. Reports are that gunmen use the school as an alternative route to carry out their crimes.
"Some children have fainted, parents have wept openly and even teachers have become emotional. One student asked a teacher if her feet were trembling, because he felt like his were trembling," the teacher said.
Speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum yesterday, Tony Reid, a representative of PALS, who is assigned to that school, said a group of students asked him when the violence in the community would end.
Rev. Osbourne Bailey, director of the government-funded Victim's Support Unit, who was also at the Editors' Forum, said a team from the unit will be visiting the school to deal with the traumatised teachers and students.
