High roller ‘Father Fowl’ cut down by gunmen
Published:Sunday | February 24, 2019 | 12:07 AMRomario Scott - Gleaner Writer
For years, Owen ‘Father Fowl’ Clarke stood as the unmatched king of lavish lifestyle in the dancehall, outflossing socialites, artistes and sports personalities he often rubbed shoulders with in the same space.
That reign came to a bloody end Friday as he was cut down shortly before midnight by two attackers who opened fire on him while he stood at party at the Harry Josephs and Sons Centre at Grove Road in Kencot, St Andrew.
Even as children and other bystanders were present, the men reportedly rode up on bikes and pumped nine bullets into Clarke’s body before making their escape.
“A just pure shot. Pickney (children) and everybody out and dem never care,” an alleged eyewitness relayed to The Sunday Gleaner.
Amateur videos show Clarke’s lifeless body lying in front of a red Range Rover along a roadway lined with businesses. He was attired in a black T-shirt, and black and white shorts.
“A wah dis inna Jamaica yah? A wah wi country gone to?” a woman at the scene wailed.
Another person in the video observed that Clarke was shot in the head.
Minutes before he was killed, other videos show the party promoter holding a cup while bopping to dancehall artiste Popcaan’s hit song, Family, whose lyrics railed against friend killers.
The bar where Clarke met his demise was one he frequented, according to information reaching The Sunday Gleaner.
Clarke was arrested, charged and sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2004 for drug-related offences in the United Kingdom.
The court heard that he used women mainly from Jamaica as ‘mules’ to smuggle drugs from the Caribbean to Britain.
He was subsequently deported to Jamaica.
Also known as ‘Roy Fowl’, Clarke, 62, also led the British Link Up Crew, which hosted a number of dancehall events in Jamaica and Britain.
He was a resident of Wavell Avenue, Kingston 11.
The police have since launched an investigation. No motive has been established for the killing.