‘More funerals than parties’
Tension escalates in St Andrew hills after teen killed, father shot in home invasion
Published:Tuesday | February 25, 2025 | 12:11 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
The sound of gunfire followed by screams broke the night’s silence in a section of the Stony Hill, St Andrew community commonly called ‘Bridge’ after gunmen killed a teen and wounded his father during a home invasion on Sunday night.
Javed Liscombe, 19, was shot multiple times by the attackers, who also opened gunfire on his father about 10:30 p.m.
The police believe electronic items were stolen by the killers.
The community, which runs along the Airy Castle main road and which was under a curfew, had already been tense following the police’s fatal shooting of Orville ‘Marvin’ Dennie and Keith ‘Neeko’ Newman.
Although both fatal shootings occurred outside the area, the friends-turned-rivals were wanted for murders committed in the Stony Hill community.
Dennie was killed on February 11 in St Thomas and Newman on February 19 during a police operation in St Catherine.
The Independent Commission of Investigations is investigating Dennie and Newman’s deaths.
The gang war in the Airy Castle area has claimed several lives and resulted in numerous people being injured.
Residents told The Gleaner that they had expected a sense of calm to return to the area after Dennie and Newman’s demise.
They said the police will have to redouble their efforts to reassure the citizens, who have suffered greatly as the community buckled under the murder and shooting wave.
The police said Liscombe was not on their radar and that the investigation into his murder on Sunday is ongoing.
“We hear the shot dem, but we nuh come out because we nuh see no blue light. We never did a expect this because of what happen the other day. We were expecting a calm and [that] di youth dem would wise up,” a resident told The Gleaner.
Some residents were, however, not aware of the deadly shooting.
“I never hear anything ... . Because of the curfew, people gone in and stay off the road. The killers dem used the [cover] of the security measure, and because no police not on the ground, and the hilly terrain. They watch the police who drive through and leave and then they strike,” another resident said.
Up press time, the elder Liscombe was still being treated for his injuries in the attack.
“The hills just full of tension. Year before, last year, and we turn the new year with more tension. People looking to have a good time will have to go elsewhere. We are tired of the killing and shooting,” one resident reasoned. “We can’t continue to live like this. Funerals and dead yards more than parties ‘cause no permit nah go run, and who a dead nah bury fi now. Families still a wait fi bury dem dead from last year.”
The St Andrew North Police Division recorded six murders as at February 22. This is a 200 per cent increase when compared to two homicides for the corresponding period in 2024.
Shootings are also up 200 per cent, with 12 incidents in 2025 for the period, compared to four last year.
The national murder toll as at February 22 stood at 104. This is 39 less – or a 27 per cent decline – when compared to the corresponding period in 2024.