In a shocking turn of events, the peaceful community of Commodore in Linstead, St. Catherine, was thrust into chaos on Sunday evening when armed assailants, disguised as police officers, launched a brutal attack on a family yard. The incident, which occurred around 8:45 pm, resulted in nine individuals being shot, five of whom tragically lost their lives, including a four-year-old child.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Christopher Phillips, who oversees Area 5, the attackers, some wearing police-style vests, stormed the premises along Commodore main road and opened fire indiscriminately. Phillips described the scene as ‘very unfortunate and awful,’ highlighting that the community had been experiencing relative calm before the tragedy struck.
Among the deceased is Shannon Gordon, a four-year-old student from Rosemount Primary and Infant School. The other victims have been identified as Mario Sullivan, 42; Jushane Edwards, 19; Iysha Washington, 39; and Famous Amos, 22. The attack left six males and three females injured, with two females and three males succumbing to their injuries.
Phillips noted that the location was not unfamiliar to law enforcement, having been visited multiple times in the past due to ‘long-standing issues and challenges’ involving the family. He suggested that the incident might be a continuation of gang conflict, which is surprising given the area’s recent tranquility. ‘Unfortunately, among the numbers, we have a four-year-old who was brutally killed… the community is in shock,’ Phillips stated.
In response to the tragedy, senior investigators and multiple police units were dispatched to the scene to expedite the investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. Phillips also mentioned that the Linstead area had recorded only eight murders this year, a significant decrease compared to over 20 during the same period last year. ‘Linstead was doing pretty well, and so this really comes as a shocker to us,’ he added.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident, with the community left to grapple with the aftermath of this devastating event.