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Four men who reportedly engaged members of the security forces in a blazing gunfight in the resort town of Negril, Westmoreland, early yesterday morning, were shot and killed and six firearms, including three rifles, seized.
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/...oogle_vignette
I saw all this around 10:30am that Friday morning at the Corner Bar. Hundreds of people were all around downtown sharing what they had videoed. Police tape had the entire parking lot behind BK closed off.
After watching countless cellphone videos, it was like something out of a movie. I am not sure how the special police terrorist and organized crime squad got the gang cornered away from the public, but they did an incredible job!
This gang, which in addition to the 5 shot (4 dead, 1 in the hospital) on the pier or in the water, yes IN the water behind Burger King was comprised of 5 other men, also captured. This gang had members from across the island and had staged several ATM truck robberies Islandwide.
In one video I saw, it seemed that the police had been following the cars for some time. The police special unit is based in Montego Bay. When the gang parked around 9am behind BK, the police drove up in red plate cars, looking as if they were taxis. The recording stopped there. Another video shows the same area a few minutes later with the "taxis" parked and the gang making a mad dash to the pier. There were no gunshots I had heard yet.
The next video shows the police moving in on the gang when one of the gang members starts shooting. At that point, it did have the eerie trappings of a movie fire fight. I would guess the video caught about 30 rounds being exchanged quickly, with at least one gang member going down on the pier. Then, for reasons I cannot fathom, the rest of the gang dove in the water with their guns.
The police then quickly sprayed the water with gunfire and in the videos you could see water jets jumping in the air from the gunshots. The police dragged 3 bodies onto the boat and that is where the videos ended.
A few noticeable takeaways, this was an incredible job by the Police Terrorist and Organized Crime Unit. They must have caught the gang completely off guard. The police stood steadfast in the face of gunfire and did their job and protected the public at the same time. Since so many had videos, downtown had to have been busy at that point and not a single bystander was injured.
Since 5 more members of the gang were rounded up somewhere (not sure where on the island), this was essentially a sting operation to catch these gang members and keep them from robbing any more trucks that refill the ATMs.
Kudos to this amazing police unit for their bravery and skill. They completely broke up a gang that has been scaring ATM truck drivers for at least a year.
WOW! This sounds like the police did an excellent job. Well done!!!
Great work by the good guys! :applause:
The riskiest point is filling the ATM's, so they try to do it less frequently. Not sure about Negril, but here in NYC they fill the machines with $300,000 each time. I was involved in the construction of a bank, an the filling of the 5 ATM's was done with 1 truck, which must've had at least $1.5m US in it.
Here's a link to a video on youtube. Notice the 1 Love tiki boat in the background.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek-lueysPPc&t=2s
Saw it on the Popeyez News Channel Page. The police were not messing around. Sent a strong message to gunmen in the area with this.
After watching numerous videos capturing the "Shootout In NegriL" I was shocked at what appeared to be the cops "Shooting Fish in a Barrel" during their mission against the purported criminals. Although the videos are filmed from an angle that doesn't allow for what the robbers are doing it clearly shows the "Security Forces" shooting into the sea from the wharf. The "Tiki Boat" can be seen lazily drifting down the Negril River and in fact, the boat was struck by several bullets including in the engine. I also read several comments from readers of Gleaner articles that support the efforts of "Law Enforcement" to clean out criminal activities in Jamaica. As much as I agree that violent crimes especially those perpetrated with guns have become a huge problem in Jamaica ( Worldwide Crime) I nonetheless believe in the fairness of the court system. I understand that there is an International Crime Commission of some sort charged with investigating the behavior of anti-crime efforts in the Caribbean (Judicial Reform) so I imagine that there will be a lengthy investigation into exactly how this "Raid" in Negril went down. I am curious as to how this has played out in the Jamaican "Press / Media" since it happened?
So based on a few shaky, distant video clips you have seen on social media you feel free to condemn the police. If you count the number of shots heard and the number of time the one police officer raises his rifle and/or the number of shots hitting the water, you can tell the bad guys were engaging the police from the water. But then, again you appear to have made your mind up. I have seen several clips on social media about the Negril shooting and the one that sticks in my head was a news broadcast. In the background was an old stock news footage from another shooting (date and where about's unknown) but it showed an armour car employee running for his life and casting his shotgun aside. He was obviously being shot at, but the terror on that mans face said it all and is locked in my memory.
So let's wait for all the fact to come in, not what is said on social media, and unless you have ever been shot at (I have) you really don't have a right to criticise.
"I nonetheless believe in the fairness of the court system."
really??
I'm far from a Police lover, but in my eyes the Police defended themselves. Someone shoots at me, I shoot back. If they run out of ammo before I do... that's just too bad. I'm sure those in the wrong wouldn't stop shooting if the table were turned and the Police were in the water.
I'm from NY so there's no way I can rely on the Judicial System. It's like the wild west here.
I am curious as to how this has played out in the Jamaican "Press / Media" since it happened?
Anyone have an answer
The citizens along with the media are universally hailing the absolutely incredible job the Police Terrorism and Organized Crime Unit carried out.Quote:
Originally Posted by johng
They killed or captured 10 gang members responsible for Bank Truck robberies and multiple innocent deaths all over the island. The Unit followed them into a unpopulated area, stood firm, waited for the gang to shoot and took care of these bad guys.
Media has been following this story for over a year, hinting if anything can stop this gang. The final coverage was obvious relief and Kudos for the Police Unit.
Everyone is thankful for the special Unit's utter professionalism. Not a single bystander was hurt even while dozens of them trying to get smartphone videos from all angles.
People and the media are proud of the professional police Unit.
Gang members island wide recruitment of young males has been damaged.
In a word, the citizens and media are grateful!
Just imagine what Jamaica and the rest of the world would be like without these brave and I think underpaid police officers. My hat is off to all police officers and the very dangerous job they do.
Thanks for the follow up