‘THEY NEVER STOOD A CHANCE’

Residents along Waltham Park Road in St Andrew say the two policemen “never stood a chance” in Thursday night’s deadly ambush, describing the unsuspecting attack as swift and calculated after they ignored warnings not to drop their guard around the volatile young men in the area.

A friend of the slain policemen said even though the area was like a ticking time bomb, they never imagined the attack would unfold against the guardians of the State with such cold precision and brazenness.

Constables Charles Stewart and Jemarey Gordon were at their business establishment in the vicinity of 83 Lane when they reportedly attempted to intervene in an altercation.

During this intervention, both officers, who were off duty, were shot.

The police were summoned to the scene, and the officers were transported to hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.

Stewart was assigned to the Spanish Town Police Station, and Gordon was assigned to the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (CTOC).

At the crime scene, their friend, visibly shaken, recounted their last conversation, saying he had urged the officers to be wary of the group of increasingly hostile young men believed to be stirring recent unrest in the community.

It is believed that the syndicate is involved in gunrunning and robberies, including car theft.

“Mi tell dem seh dem boy deh can’t tame. But di police dem never expect the boy dem fi shoot them … . Dem come wid gun inna hand blazing,” the friend told The Gleaner.

AWARE OF HIGH TENSION

He said the officers were aware that tensions were high because they were called to pacify a situation, but they did not anticipate the kind of point-blank assault that unfolded, one which he believes left them little time to defend themselves.

“All when dem a try fix other people problem, they became the issue and dem never stand a chance. Di boys move too quick … . Di police never see it coming,” another resident said.

The residents believe the suspects, who escaped on foot, will be caught soon.

“Weh dem a go go? Dem nuh have nuhweh fi run. And now the whole place mash up … . People afraid, and Waltham Park Road going get blacklist because two police dead ya so,” he said.

Before press time last evening, one of the three suspects, reportedly accompanied by a justice of the peace, turned himself in.

In custody is 19-year-old Macarius Munroe, otherwise called ‘Macky’, of Ricketts Crescent, Kingston 11.

The police say arrangements are being made for him to be questioned by detectives.

Meanwhile, the police are urging Junior Brown, otherwise called ‘Junior’, of Seaward Drive, Kingston 11, and a man known only as ‘Squidly’ to turn themselves in to the nearest police station immediately.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Major Investigation Division at 876-758-5048, the National Intelligence Bureau at 811, Crime Stop at 311, the police 119 emergency number, or the nearest police station.

Head of the Area Four Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael Phipps, said the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) response will be “swift and very decisive”.

“Both officers are officers who have tremendous service to the country,” Phipps said.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness condemned the killings as “violent and senseless” and said the JCF has the full support of the Government.

He is urging Jamaicans to stand with the police.

National Security and Peace Minister Dr Horace Chang described the murders as “an affront to public order and a direct challenge to lawful authority”.

He pledged that the full capacity of the State would be brought to bear on capturing the remaining suspects.

Fitz Jackson, the opposition spokesman on national security, also expressed outrage, saying the attack came at a time when the country was still reeling from Hurricane Melissa.

“Jamaicans are being forced to confront not just the pains of natural disasters but also the trauma of these violent crimes against our police officers,” Jackson said.

A heavy deployment of police and soldiers remained in the area on Friday as investigators collected evidence and carried out targeted operations.

Residents say the community is tense, frightened, and worried about the long-term fallout.

Several told The Gleaner that Waltham Park Road is now at risk of being labelled a police killing zone.

“Dis yah go follow we. Anywhere two police get kill, people a go look pon di place different. Is like Waltham can’t catch a break. We never want it reach yah so,” a resident said.

The scene was one of grief Thursday night with policemen and women turning up in droves as news started to spread.

One policeman punched a service vehicle, letting out his anger at losing two colleagues to criminals.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com