Murders down 42 per cent in Clarendon

Murders are down 42 per cent in Clarendon, says head of the police division, Superintendent Carlos Russell.

Russell was giving a report during Thursday's sitting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation.

Russell said to date12 people have been killed in the parish since the start of the year – nine fewer homicides when compared to the 2023 corresponding period.

While highlighting that reduction, Russell also acknowledged that certain areas, particularly in the southern sections of the parish, continue to pose concerns.

Specifically, he mentioned Lionel Town and the fishing village of Rocky Point in south eastern Clarendon as focal points.

In response to the challenges faced, a 48-hour curfew was implemented in Rocky Point last Friday to address the situation.

Despite the 42 per cent decrease, Russell stressed that 12 murders were still concerning.

He particularly highlighted two recent tragic incidents to underscore his point: the double murder of two alleged goat thieves who were brutally hacked to death in Rock River earlier this month, and the death of a senior citizen in a reported arson attack on Sunday in Toll Gate.

He posited that those incidents served as stark reminders of the ongoing challenges, and the importance of continued efforts to address crime and violence in the area.

"We have some unfortunate incidents, but we also have been doing a lot of operational activities, and a lot of our murder suspects are in custody," he disclosed, noting that a 25-year-old man was recently charged with the January 26 shooting death of 9-year-old Shamar Walker in May Pen.

The top cop stated that in order to uphold peace throughout the parish, law enforcement has intensified its presence and deployed additional resources towards crime fighting efforts.

Russell also noted that a series of gas station robberies, previously plaguing the town centre, had also been trending down in recent times.

- Olivia Brown

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