Fear continues to grip motorists and bystanders across the Corporate Area as a string of deadly gun attacks carried out by assailants on motorcycles turn routine commutes into scenes of terror. The most recent incident occurred at the busy Molynes Road and Washington Boulevard intersection, where 29-year-old Whitlif Riley was fatally shot in his vehicle during rush hour. The brazen daylight attack also left a bystander injured and underscored a disturbing pattern of violence tied to ongoing gang feuds.

Deadly roadway shootings piling up in Corporate Area

Gunmen on motorcycle causing havoc, cops say latest murder gang related

Jamaica Gleaner/25 Mar 2025/Andre Williams/Staff Reporter 

ASERIES of deadly stoplight gun attacks in the Corporate Area, and along main thoroughfares, is becoming a growing concern for potential bystanders and unsuspecting motorists going about their lawful business day to day.

In the latest roadway killing of a motorist and shooting injury of a bystander, the early morning commute was brought to a standstill yesterday at the busy intersection of Molynes Road and Washington Boulevard about 8:40 a.m.

The deceased has since been identified as 29-year-old Whitlif Riley otherwise called Shane, of a Rosewell Avenue, Maverley address.

Reports from the St Andrew South police are that Riley was driving along Molynes Road, approaching the stoplight, when gunmen on a motorcycle rode up and opened fire on his grey Toyota Probox.

He was shot in the upper body and head, leaving him slumped across the steering wheel while the vehicle was still in motion.

Another man standing close by also received gunshot wounds.

Both men were rushed to hospital where Riley was pronounced dead and the other man admitted.

When The Gleaner arrived on the scene, traffic was piled up coming from Half-way Tree towards Molynes Road and also along

Washington Boulevard as crime detectives processed the scene.

A motorist who spoke with The Gleaner said a delay in getting to the area may have prevented her from getting caught up in the shooting.

“I was just three or four cars away from the shooting. These kinds of killing are becoming frequent. Is always men on bikes who come up to their target and start shooting. They don’t care if anyone else get hurt or even die ... these appear to be contract killing or reprisal so the aim is to execute at all cost. I am glad I wasn’t closer,” the female motorist said.

PREVIOUS MURDERS

On March 2, the St Andrew North police launched a probe into the predawn murder of 26-year-old Stephan Trenchfield, who was gunned down while travelling in his Mercedesbenz SUV along Constant Spring Road.

Armed men travelling on motorcycles opened fire on the vehicle in the vicinity the Dunrobin Avenue stoplight.

Trenchfield was hit and rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

In another stoplight-featuring murder, also in the Corporate Area and near the previously mentioned incident, 12-year-old Kevaugn Fearon was shot and killed and his mother injured on January 24.

The St George’s College student succumbed to gunshot injuries after he, his mother, and his brother were ambushed by men on a motorcycle about 7:30 a.m.

The Gleaner understands the woman, who was driving, came to a stop at the Lindsay Crescent and Dunrobin Avenue stoplight when men on a motorcycle opened fire on the vehicle.

Spent casings were found along the roadway. There have been no reports of arrests in any of the fatal shooting incidents.

“I don’t know if is me alone realise that there aren’t any arrests and the fact that these intersections have security cameras is no deterrent, the gunmen believe once their deadly operations involve the use of a motorcycle, they will get away. We can be out here selling and lose our life same way. We as a people too vicious against one another and just sit down and plot how to take each other life. There is more to life,” a vendor said, following yesterday’s deadly attack.

The police theorise that Riley’s death is linked to the deadly ongoing feud between factions of the top and bottom Maverley gang.

Investigators say Riley, who is known to them, is aligned to the Top Maverley faction.

The Gleaner understands that his killing is in reprisal for the death of Orlando David, who was among six people shot coming from a wake on February 23.

David succumbed to injuries in the attack believed to be orchestrated by the Top Maverley gang.

The St Andrew South Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) is investigating Monday’s murder and shooting.

This police division leads all 19 police divisions with 25 murders up to March 22.

As at that date, the national murder toll stood at 167 or a 35 per cent decline year-on-year.

This is 88 fewer than the 255 murders committed up to the similar point last year.

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