They were warned ... Cop blames Park Lane residents for ignoring curfew

A senior police source in the St Andrew North Division, which includes Red Hills Road, yesterday claimed that the six persons shot near the entrance of Park Lane last Saturday evening were part of a group who were urged to leave the streets by a police party before the shooting happened.

"The police had been going through the area telling them to come off the road ... as soon as the police left that spot, the people came back, saying that they were not a part of the curfew because where they were is across the street from the areas under curfew," said the police source who asked not to be named.

Two of those shot succumbed to their injuries at hospital.

The police have identified one of them as 65-year-old maintenance worker Errol Scott, while residents said the other man is Shaun Miller, a resident of a neighbouring community, who had gone to Park Lane to visit a friend.

PLANNEDREPRISAL

A curfew was imposed on Park and 100 lanes last Wednesday, amid reports of planned reprisals for the murder of 37-year-old Hafia Fowles.

She was killed by gunmen in 100 Lane last Tuesday.

The curfew was lifted last Friday evening but the police maintained a strong presence in the area. But that was not enough to stop the gunmen last Saturday evening.

"They (the Park Lane residents) were told that there should be no gathering. The police can't stay at one spot whole day. The police don't have any control over certain things. The curfew was extended to Sunday (yesterday) at 6 p.m. but I don't know if it will be extended," added the policeman.

The Police High Command later indicated that the curfew has been extended for a further 48 hours