The Major Investigation Division (MID) has taken over the investigation of the brutal double murder of a man and woman that occurred on Monday, Sept 16, instilling fear in the community of Burke Road in Kingston.
The victims have been identified as 48-year-old Phillipa Gordon, also known as ‘Philly’, a janitor residing on Caledonia Lane in Kingston 13, and 54-year-old Andre Wanhue of Grove Road, Kingston 10.
Sources revealed that Gordon must have been the intended target of this brutal attack, which residents linked to a gun attack in the community earlier this year involving a relative who has since relocated. Wanhue, believed to be her spouse, was a regular visitor to the area.
Reports from the Hunts Bay police department stated that around 9:10 p.m., officers on patrol discovered a Nissan Wingroad motor vehicle parked along the roadside. Upon investigation, they found Wanhue at the steering wheel, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. Gordon was located lying on the roadway, also with gunshot wounds.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the tragic murders to reach out to the nearest police station.
The St Andrew South Police Division has been grappling with a series of murders and shootings in recent weeks. As of September 14, the division reported a 19 percent reduction in overall murders, with 69 recorded incidents this year, a decrease from 85 during the same period in 2023. Other major crimes have also seen a decline since the beginning of the year.
So far this year, the national murder toll stands at 825, reflecting a 17 percent decrease year on year.
Fatal Central Village Shooting: A Community’s Sad Reality.
A former resident of Central Village was fatally shot by gunmen during a visit to the St Catherine community on Wednesday.
According to reports from residents to the Jamaica Observer, the individual, whose identity has not been disclosed by police, had earlier been marked for death.
He had once lived in the community but was compelled to leave some time ago due to escalating conflict. Residents indicated that he had been warned by local men not to return to the area, with threats of fatal consequences should he do so.
Despite the dire warnings, he reentered the community on Wednesday and was later shot dead.
As police conducted their investigation at the scene, local vendors and taxi operators appeared largely unaffected by the incident, continuing with their activities as if nothing had transpired.
Three students were released from hospital following a crash in St. Elizabeth.
Three of the four students involved in a crash on Wednesday morning along Top Hill Main Road in St. Elizabeth have been released from the hospital.
The incident occurred when a flatbed truck transporting a backhoe loader overturned after the driver lost control on the main road.
A Toyota Noah, which was ferrying students from Munro Preparatory, was struck by the tractor.
Both the truck driver and the students sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The brother of the driver of the Noah bus stated that, apparently, the truck developed mechanical problems.
The collision caused damage to Jamaica Public Service (JPS) power lines and telecommunication cables.
In an update provided on Wednesday afternoon, JPS reported that the truck involved in the accident was still at the scene, hindering efforts to restore power.
The truck was removed around 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, and JPS announced that service to most customers would be restored by approximately 7 p.m.