'I thought they'd kill me next' - Man recounts escape as police publish 'Dog Paw' pics

Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer

One person who claims to have escaped Sunday's vicious predawn attack that left three family members dead in Bedward Gardens, St Andrew, yesterday painted a picture of the terror unleashed by a group of heavily armed gunmen the police claim were led by the nation's most wanted man, Christopher 'Dog Paw' Linton.

At the same time, the Police High Command turned up the heat on Linton yesterday, releasing pictures and a profile of the accused gang leader who has managed to elude them for months.

Police Commissioner Owen Ellington also raised the threat level against the security forces to "extremely high", warning those members who live and work in August Town and Bedward Gardens, in St Andrew; Spanish Town, St Catherine; and Montego Bay, St James, to be "extremely vigilant".

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the man who escaped Sunday's attack described how he and five members of a family cowered under a bed for several terrifying minutes as the sound of gunfire rang out.

"You a hear gunshot from outside, 'til them reach inna the house ... and all when them reach inna the house, gunshot still a fire," he told The Gleaner, while standing several feet from the burnt-out remains of the five-room property.

'Kill di bwoy'

While under the bed, he said he heard one of the gunmen demanding money from Maris Hilton, a 50-year-old taxi operator. He said the sound of gunfire rang out again after one of the gunmen ordered one of his cronies to "kill di bwoy".

Saying he was fearful that he would be next, the man recounted how he dashed through a back door and related how Diana Forbes willed another family member to follow him before she, her six-year-old son Jahame McKay, and Hilton, her uncle, were killed.

"'Run! Run!" she reportedly shouted.

Another family member shot during the attack remained hospitalised yesterday.

Member of parliament for East Rural St Andrew, Joseph Hibbert, visited the community yesterday and said he had been given assurances by the police that they would maintain a strong presence in the area.

He also appealed to residents who have information about Linton to come forward and assist the police "so that we can try and get justice as quickly as possible".

Head of the St Andrew Central Police Division, Superintendent Derrick Knight, told The Gleaner that information on Linton's whereabouts "has been coming in very frequently".

Knight said: "We have been to several places where we know he was staying and we either just missed him, or he left some time before."

The three men taken into custody following the attacks are expected to be interrogated in the presence of their attorneys later this week.

Backlash from Tesha's arrest

Ellington said the increased threat level against the security forces in Spanish Town was related to the recent arrest of Tesha Miller, the reputed leader of the Clansman gang based in the Old Capital.

He said criminals in the area had threatened that the "police in Spanish Town will not have a good Christmas if Tesha remains in prison".

Ellington said the criminal case against Miller would be pursued "vigorously" through the courts and that the police would oppose bail until trial.

Ellington said every effort was being made to protect witnesses in the case and to secure their evidence at trial.

"Our members will not be deterred by the threats they have received and will continue to support law-abiding citizens who simply want peace in their communities," he said.

The threat level was raised in Montego Bay after police personnel there began receiving death threats following a major drug bust.

Who is 'Dog Paw'?

• NAME: Christopher Anthony Linton
• AGE: 24 years
• COMPLEXION: Dark
• BUILD: Slim
• HEIGHT: 5' 9" (175 cm approximately)