Claudine Haughton was in church on Sunday afternoon when her son called her and said he was being shot at and she needed to come quick.

Her son, Kwesi Cunningham, 24, of Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston, was at a friend's house when he was shot dead. He was one of five men killed during a joint police-military operation in the area. While the police have not released the identities of the other men, THE STAR understands that two of them are Rolland 'Randy' Wellington, 20, and a man known as 'Andre', both of Tivoli Gardens. Nine guns were seized during the operation which was still taking place up to press time.

"Him call mi and say him inna waan house pin down and bare shot a fire and mi fi come and bring a JP (Justice of the Peace) and a pastor," she said.

She received that call at 12:30 p.m .when Sunday school ended and immediately left Spanish Town for Tivoli with her daughter, but they arrived too late. "Di last time me talk to him a when wi deh pan Weymouth Drive and him say mi mus hurry up and come," she said.

Although she and her daughter tried to get to the scene, they were barred by soldiers. She accused the lawmen of assaulting her daughter whom they took away in a police vehicle.

A confused and weeping Haughton said Cunningham was her first son and second child. After a resident squeezed $100 into her hand to pay her fare, she turned to the news team to find out what she should do next. "What I mus' do miss? Weh mi fi go?" she asked. A resident directed her to Madden's Funeral Home.

Most wanted list


This woman (centre), a sister of Kwesi Cunningham who was killed in Tivoli Gardens yesterday, weeps after she went inside Madden's Funeral Home to confirm that her brother was among the five men shot dead in an alleged shoot-out with the security forces. - Rudolph Brown

Later, when there was a mad rush to view the bodies at Madden's, one of Cunningham's sisters confirmed her worst fears and could hardly speak or stand after discovering her brother was truly dead.

Karl Angell, director of communication for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, said just before noon, police went into the area in search of men on the island's most wanted list when they were met with heavy gunfire. They returned the fire and when it was all over five men were dead and a solider and a police officer were injured.

Inspector Steve Brown, from the Constabulary Communication Network, said while he was not able to say if any of the dead men were wanted, none of those targeted in the operation were among the dead.

Residents, upset about the sudden disruption to their lives, claimed the men were murdered. One resident on Keith Avenue, where the shooting occurred, said a joint police military team entered the community around 11:30 am and started firing shots. "Dem just come een and dem say to di pickney dem, unnuh gwaan een and mi lock dem up and a pure shot start fire afterwards," one woman said.

Residents said soldiers barred them from leaving their homes and tear-gassed those who tried to get on the scene. Some residents also claimed that shots had also been fired from a helicopter circling the community before and after the shoot-out.

A large contingent of soldiers remained in the area covering every entrance to Tivoli. Angell said they would remain as long as is necessary to ensure calm remains.

Desmond McKenzie, councillor for the Tivoli Gardens Division, said he was there to ensure that residents respected the officers and that the operation was conducted professionally.