Four killed at nightclub

BY KARYL WALKER Crime/Court coordinator walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, July 03, 2009

FOUR men, including two brothers who were members of the British Link Up Crew, were shot and killed and another man injured at the Live Wire Sports Bar and Grill, formerly known as La Roose, at Port Henderson Road in St Catherine, late Wednesday night.

The dead men have been identified as Ricardo 'Bully' Thomas, his brother Kirk - both of Charlemont Drive - David Wisdom, also called 'Biggs' of Lindale Avenue, and Andrew Walker, also called 'Mampy Zeeks', of August Town, all in St Andrew.

The Live Wire Sports Bar and Grill on Port Henderson Road in St Catherine. (Photo: Marlon Reid)

Injured is a 24-year-old man.

Police said a group of men entered the open-air club armed with M16 assault rifles. They reportedly posed as police officers and were embraced by some women who were at the venue, minutes before they opened fire at the five who were among patrons seated at the bar.

The Thomas brothers, Walker and Wisdom died on the spot while the other man was taken to hospital where he was admitted.

Cops who arrived on the scene said they seized a 9mm pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition outside the perimeter fencing of the premises.

Last year 'Bully', who made Jamaica's top 10 most wanted list, escaped with a $1-million fine and three years probation after he pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, having been caught with two 9mm pistols along with 49 rounds of ammunition.

He was one of the reputed leaders of the British Link Up Crew and was alleged to have been involved in an internal gang feud in c**kburn Pen - a tough community in Kingston 11 - which led to the murders of dozens of persons.

Meanwhile, police said Walker was an influential figure in a section of August Town known as 'Jungle 12'. Last year he was shot and injured while waiting in his car at a traffic light on Hope Boulevard in St Andrew.

The police also alleged that 'Mampy Zeeks' was a main player in a feud between gangs from Jungle 12 and another section of August Town known as 'Judgement Yard', four years ago.

Yesterday, acting deputy commissioner in charge of crime and operations, Owen Ellington, said the police were following several leads and were moving to prevent acts of reprisals.

"We are anticipating some reprisal action and we are positioning ourselves to interrupt or prevent that," Ellington told reporters at a press conference at Eden Gardens in St Andrew yesterday.

Wednesday night's shooting was the second in a little over a year, and the third in six years at the popular entertainment spot. Last March, 41-year-old Clifton Reid was shot dead, and six others, including a woman, shot and injured during a gunfight at a British Link Up 'unity' dance at the same venue. Reid, the police said, was a member of the Lincoln Road-based Black Roses Crew. He was shot twice in the face after he attempted to restrain one of several men who were involved in a fracas over a woman.

In the aftermath of that incident, the police placed a ban on dances at La Roose.

In January 2003, five civilians were shot and injured after police fired into a crowd while a dance was in progress. Police said they went to the dance to enforce the night noise abatement act and while they were seeking audience with the promoter, gunshots were fired and they were pelted with missiles.

However, patrons refuted the police claims, saying the cops discharged their weapons when their demands for money were not met.

The incident prompted then Police Commissioner Francis Forbes to order the Bureau of Special Investigations to conduct a probe.