Gunmen went on a rampage in St. Catherine and Kingston yesterday, killing at least six persons, including two family members of a family and a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldier...
News Source: Jamaica Gleaner
Two others were left nursing bullet wounds.
Yesterday's shootings have increased the number of persons killed violently since January to more than 140, or approximately three persons per day.
Among the latest fatalities are Renford Linguard, 62; his 35-year-old son, Patrick Linguard, of New Nursery, Spanish Town; Errol Mandison, alias 'Tanny', of Windsor Meadows; Corporal Ralston Edwards of the JDF and Greater Portmore, St. Catherine; Richard Phillips, 34, alias 'Chips'; and an unidentified man.
The small community of New Nursery, which sits on the outskirts of the hotbed of Spanish Town, was rocked by the shooting of four family members. The murders occurred shortly after midday.
TARGETED KILLING
Reports are that about four gunmen went to the community inquiring about the Linguard family and where they lived. While combing the small zinc-fenced community, the gunmen encountered Patrick Linguard and shot him several times.
They immediately moved to a room where Patrick's father, Renford, was lying down on a bed. He was shot all over his body and later died on the spot.
Mr. Renford's wife, Patricia, who was in the yard at the time, was also shot. The couple's 19-year-old son, Sheldon, was chased and then shot. Up to late yesterday, reports are that the teenager remained in critical condition.
There are reports that the father, Renford Linguard, was a Crown witness in a matter that was scheduled for mention in court today.
Prior to yesterday's shooting there are reports that family members were threatened two days ago.
Meantime, the body of the 42-year-old JDF soldier was discovered by passers-by about 6:00 a.m. in an open lot in the vicinity of the Southborough housing scheme. A booklet indicating that he was a licensed firearm holder was also found in his pocket, but the firearm was not found.
Mandison's wooden one-room hut was broken into by heavily armed gunmen about 1:00 a.m. yesterday.
REPRISAL KILLINGS
The Rastafarian, a mason by profession, was sprayed with bullets. Scores of spent shells from an AK-47 and M-16 rifles were found at the scene, along with the casings of shotguns.
The police said his death was a reprisal in an ongoing gang warfare in the area where, since last Saturday, three persons have been killed and six others shot and injured.
Four days ago Leon Whyte and another man, known as 'Ziggy', both taxi drivers, were killed execution-style.
Over in Bull Bay, St. Andrew, a man who was wanted by the police for murder, Richard Phillips, was shot and killed, in what appears to be a case of 'jungle justice'.
The body of the sixth person was found with several wounds, floating in the Kingston Har-bour in the vicinity of High-holborn Street.
