Waltham Park Road tense after shooting scare during curfew

A gun attack carried out Monday night by men on motorcycles against residents of 75 and 77 Lanes, off Waltham Park Road in St Andrew, has left the community on edge, with fears of escalating violence.

The area, which falls within the St Andrew Central Police Division, is currently under a 48-hour curfew that began Sunday at 6 p.m.

“Nobody nuh get shot this time, … but this only a go make things bruck out again in the New Year,” a resident told The Gleaner last night.

Five people were killed in the Waltham Park Road area on November 25, 2024, after gunmen went on a shooting rampage in two sections of the community.

Residents believe Monday’s shooting is a continuation of the ongoing violence between rival factions.

“Two man dem ride pon the bike from Back Lane and one come off and start fire after two men who were walking on the lane. Dem run off a one a di man dem down 75 Lane ... . The next man hide under a car pon 77 Lane and when di shot dem done fire, dem a try start the bike and the bike wouldn’t start and dem push it and it start,” the alleged eyewitness recalled.

The police were called to the scene, scouring the area for evidence and collecting spent casings from the shooting.

“People have to leave dem house in the community and go pay rent elsewhere and it cost weh we nuh have. Some affi come back home and a this start off the year and curfew in a di place,” a resident lamented.

Jamaica recorded 34 murders in the first 11 days of 2025, according to the latest serious crime statistics published Sunday by the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Four of those murders occurred in the St Andrew Central Police Division, prompting the extra security measure.

The latest crime data shows that 14 of the 19 police divisions have recorded at least one murder since the start of the year.

Since Sunday, 48-hour curfews have also been imposed in Kingston Eastern, Kingston Western, St Andrew South, and St Catherine South.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com