Businessman’s murder spikes tension in Grants Pen
Published:Wednesday | September 13, 2023 | 12:11 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
The shooting death of a 33-year-old businessman in Grants Pen on Tuesday has caused tensions to heighten in the St Andrew community.
Dwayne Williams, who lived at a Border Avenue, Havendale address in St Andrew, was reportedly shot about 12:45 a.m. at the intersection of Grants Pen and Shortwood roads.
Residents who heard the explosions summoned the police, who found Williams, who was also known as ‘6’, slumped over the steering of a bullet-riddled white Toyota Axio motor car, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The St Andrew North police are keeping a close watch on the community following the murder.
A senior officer told The Gleaner that there has been an uptick in crime in the area, with Tuesday’s murder unfolding just metres from the Grants Pen Police Station.
“Since the start of the month, there have been reports of [several] shootings and one murder. Five gun-related robberies have also occurred,” the senior officer, who requested anonymity, told The Gleaner. “This has the potential to turn into a gang war, because he (Williams) is a very influential person.”
Residents said they are now exercising great caution as the community was already on edge because of another incident.
“Grants Pen nuh get no rest. [It’s] one thing after another. We have fi go lock up earlier, the road a go dead after certain hours,” one resident said.
The police said that they have received reports that the factions in the space are having internal discussions about Williams’ murder.
The St Andrew North police division has recorded a decline in murders this year.
As of August 26, some 34 people were murdered, compared to 42 over the corresponding period in 2022.
Shootings, injured persons, robberies and break-ins are also down.
The police say there is, however, an increase in reported cases of rape.