BY MARK CUMMINGS Editor-at-Large WESTERN BUREAU cummingsm@jamaicaobserver.com Monday, January 16, 2017
GOODWILL, St James — Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Clifford Blake yesterday described the joint police/military operation in the Goodwill community of St James on Saturday night, in which six alleged members of the Ski Mask Gang were killed, as “a brave and courageous effort” by the lawmen.
Police said four guns and a quantity of ammunition were seized following the deadly shoot-out.
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| Soldiers and Police on da spot |
“We are yet to get all the details of the operation, but from all indications it was a brave and courageous effort by members of the security forces in the face of danger,” said DCP Blake during a tour of a section of the community, which was the scene of an alleged firefight between the lawmen and members of the gang.
“It is really a commendable effort. They [police] came under severe threat and they responded to defend themselves. To face a gang of well-armed criminals in the night, firing at you, and taking the reputation of these guys into consideration… they are dangerous criminals; they are people who don’t hesitate to murder people… so it’s really bravery and courage of the highest order.” The operation, which involved members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the Mobile Reserve of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, was acting in response to information reportedly received about the gang that is said to have been involved in recent shootings in the Barrett Town area of St James.
The police reported that about 9:00 pm on Saturday, lawmen, strategically positioned on a section of the Goodwill main road, signalled the driver of a Toyota Corolla motor car in which the alleged gang members were travelling, to stop. The vehicle reportedly came to a halt, then shortly afterwards the occupants exited the vehicle and fired at the lawmen. The fire was returned, and when the shooting subsided the six were discovered with gunshot wounds. They were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead.
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| Marlon Samuels, one of the alleged ‘Ski Mask’ gang member killed by the lawmen on Saturday night |
Five of them have since been identified as: Oswyn Jarrett, otherwise called “Ski Mask”, the alleged leader of the gang; Deno Pryce, alias “Buju”; Marlon Samuels, alias “Brutus”; and two identified only by aliases “Shenky”; and “Fargo”.
A policeman was also injured during the incident, while the four firearms reportedly recovered by the security forces from the scene of the gunfight are: a Ruger P89 9mm pistol, serial number 309214; a Mini Firestorm Thunder 9mm pistol, serial number 670447; one single-action Browning pistol, with serial number erased; and a HS 9mm pistol, serial number 19666. A number of magazines were also recovered with a quantity of ammunition. One JDF vehicle involved in the operation is said to have been damaged in the incident, as well as another vehicle believed to be owned by a Goodwill resident, which was reportedly parked in the area during the operation. There was no one in that vehicle.
Yesterday, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) said in a statement that it has already launched a probe into the incident.
“Our team, which is still on scene, has been on the ground since late last night [Saturday] conducting forensic examinations, interviewing members of the security forces, canvassing for witnesses, and other investigations. The members of the JDF have been very cooperative during the investigations,” said INDECOM. more
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