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The recent flare-up of gun violence in West Kingston has claimed lives and injured many who have been caught up in the bloodletting, a senior police source at the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) told THE STAR.

The police confirmed that this uptick in violence stems from gang-related reprisals and the assertion of dominance by one gang known as the 'Tivoli Young Generation (YG)' in the area.

"All of the incidents that have been taking place lately are gang related but not all of them are related to each other," said the policeman. "It is said that the 'Scream Corner' gang no longer wants to be a part of the broader system, they want to be left alone by Tivoli Young Generation but of course Tivoli YG wants to dominate in the entire West Kingston space."

Reputed West Kingston gangster

Last week, there have been at least four murders and shootings, THE STAR was informed.

Last Saturday, 19-year-old Andre 'Budu' Miller, son of reputed West Kingston gangster Omar 'Andy Fowl' Miller, who was killed in 2019, was among four persons who were shot and killed in the West Kingston area. The police source informed THE STAR that the lawmen have identified two persons who have been linked to the weekend shootings.

"A joint police military operation in the area was launched to find two brothers, 'the William Brothers', in relation to the quadruple shooting last Saturday," the source said. "Heavy presence in the area and several targeted operations led to the arrest of one but the other is still being sought after by the police."

Even though the state of public emergency in West Kingston, which was introduced to quell crime and violence, expired back in August, the police have promised that they would be maintaining a presence in the area to keep gangsters in check.