Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

Police officers from the St. Andrew North division converse with a resident at a buffer zone set up near the site where nine people were shot in Waterhouse in St. Andrew yesterday. Michael Phipps, the Deputy Superintendent of Police in charge of crime at the St Andrew South Police Station, said that residents should expect an increase in police presence in the area. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Unity Lane and Unity Drive became a divided place in the volatile inner-city community of Waterhouse on Tuesday night. This was after marauding gunmen shot nine men, two fatally, in an audacious attack at the intersection of Unity Lane and Unity Drive in the lower St. Andrew community.

According to police reports, about 10:00 p.m. a group of persons were standing at the intersection when they were approached by thugs with high-powered weapons. The gun-wielding men opened fire, hitting the group.

After the hail of bullets, Bernard Williams, 26, also called 'Hitty', was found dead. The eight other men were rushed to the hospital after which Lincoln Moore, 53, of Fairview Avenue, St. Andrew, succumbed to his injuries.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Michael Phipps, in charge of crime at the St. Andrew South Police Station, told The Gleaner yesterday that the incident resulted from prolonged fighting between rival gangs - the 'Sunshine Crew' and the 'Lyrics Corner Crew'. DSP Phipps said the feud started in 2006 after Lascelles Williams, a strongman from Sunshine Crew, was killed. Since then there has been several reprisals.

DSP Phipps has called for the following persons to turn themselves in for questioning. They are known as 'Mark 2', 'Rex', 'Teddy', 'Nash' and 'Stun'. These men are all from the community of Waterhouse and are a part of the Sunshine Crew, according to DSP Phipps.

The shooting in Waterhouse is the second such multiple shooting incident in recent weeks. Two weeks ago, seven persons were killed in Rockfort, east Kingston. There have also been prolonged conflicts in central Kingston between rival gangs.

While there is no evidence to link these criminal activities, Assistant Commissioner of Police Denver Frater believes that migratory criminals continue to lead unlawful lives in their new communities, thus leading to these incidents.

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com