Jamaica News

Washington Boulevard, a four lane dual carriage way, is for many, a fast and way to get into and out of the Corporate Area when traveling west or returning from that direction. For residents of Maverley and Drewsland – two communities that face each other on opposite sides of ‘The Boulevard’ – however, this road represents an imaginary border line which they cross at their own risk. Why? Because heavily armed gangsters from the two communities reportedly patrol the area on the hunt for anyone who ‘strays’ and crosses the border line.

Unfortunately for Tursha Lee, a 23 year old Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) private who was a resident of Morgan Pass in Clarendon and who had stayed overnight with his sister in Drewsland, he was apparently unaware of the danger of crossing the border, and paid with his life earlier yesterday morning.

According to police reports, shortly before seven yesterday morning, Lee left Drewsland and went to a bus stop on the other side of Washington Boulevard. While at the bus stop, he was pounced on by a group of men who shot him multiple times, killing him on the spot.

Numerous persons have reportedly been killed in this area of Washington Boulevard over the past two years; for no other reason than because they lived in Maverley or Drewsland and had ‘strayed’.

13 year old Omar Barrett of Whitfield Town in St. Andrew, became the latest victim of ongoing gang wars in Kingston, as he was viciously shot and killed in the early hours of yesterday morning, while returning from a wake.

According to residents of the area, rival gangs have been squaring off against each other, and a group of gunmen stopped Barrett who was with a group of other boys, returning from the wake. They questioned the youths about where they lived, and when Barrett reportedly told them that he lived on Gem Road, he was shot multiple times. The other youths fled the scene and managed to escape.

According to his mother, Maverlyn Lawrence, he was killed because he “crossed the borderline”, not because he was actually involved in the gang war.

This message is issued by the U.S. Embassy to alert American citizens concerning ongoing violence in the Grants Pen/Shortwood area of Kingston.
Police have advised that a gang war is in progress in the Grants Pen Road and Shortwood Lane of Upper St. Andrew. At last report, at least five (5) persons have been killed in the area, and heavily armed men remain.

The police advise avoiding this area due to this ongoing gang war.

Americans should monitor local radio and television reports and stay away from the Grants Pen and Shortwood Lane areas of Kingston until the news media confirms that the area is safe.