Dwight Nelson, Gleaner Writer

Canaa Clarendon:

Despite the heavy presence of military and police personnel throughout Clarendon, the bloodletting has continued unabated in the Parish.

The latest victim is 37-year-old Simon Smith of Canaa who was gunned down while walking in the community on Sunday night with his 39-year-old common-law wife.

Smith's murder was the second in the community in less than a week as 14-year-old Jamar Legg was shot and killed by unknown assailants outside his house last Thursday.

Reports reaching The Gleaner are that Smith and his wife were walking along a road in Canaa at approximately 7:45 p.m. when they were approached by a lone gunman who fired several shots, hitting both persons.

Smith died on the spot while his common-law wife was taken to the May Pen Hospital where she was admitted in stable condition.

When The Gleaner arrived on the scene, most residents were tight-lipped but were, however, concerned that the wave of violence in the community may affect anyone.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "A de same gang war from las' year a tek place 'til now and we cyaan manage fi live like dis nuh more."

"A full time now it stop because if it nuh stop, all a we soon dead out," added the obviously worried resident.

While residents blame the long-time gang feud for the latest wave of violence, Constabulary Com-munication Network liaison officer for Clarendon, Constable Georgia Richards, said the reasons for the recent shootings were still unclear.