News

Vendors call for Zekes' return

SATURDAY'S KILLING OF two men in downtown, Kingston, has renewed calls by some vendors for the return of Matthews Lane area leader, Donald 'Zekes' Phipps.

They claim downtown is showing signs of returning to its lawless past, which kept shoppers away and had them in fear.

Gone to the dogs

"Since the big man gaan, town gone to the dogs. When him deh bout, town was respectable, now yuh haffi hurry up and leave as it dust up," one vendor told THE STAR.

The vendors claim that people were being robbed frequently at nights in the St. William Grant Park and there have been shootings in the area which have got them worried about sales in this back-to-school shopping period.

"Wi a fret because di sales weh wi woulda get wi nuh know if nobady ago come because down here a get bad again," a vendor said. Vendors of downtown Kingston are claiming it was a case of mistaken identity that lead to the death of one of two men who were shot dead in downtown Kingston on Saturday night.

The men, Leon 'Lion Heart' Buckley, 40, from Princess Street and an unidentified man, were found dead after several explosions. Vendors say though they do not know the reason for the killings, they are almost certain the shooting of the unidentified man is a case of mistaken identity as he is of unsound mind and lives on the street. "Dem just walk up to dem and shot dem, but one a dem a did a waan mad man and it look like im fava di man who dem come for," a vendor told THE STAR.

Another vendor told THE STAR she was in the Oxford Mall when she heard the final shot and saw several people running with their wares. She said Buckley often sold on the streets downtown. "Him normally under big tree and him woulda run two joke and ting, but me nuh know im fi involve in anything why dem woulda waan kill him," she said.

No motive

The Kingston Central police, who have no motive for the killings, say there were no recent gang flare-ups in the division and so the murder may have been linked to gangs outside the division. Police say at about 6:30 p.m., Buckley was walking along Beckford Street when he was approached by a group of men all armed with handguns. He ran and was chased by the men who fired several shots hitting him. He ran into a store where he collapsed and died. Shortly after the unidentified man's body was found along West Street riddled with gunshots. The bodies were removed to the morgue for post mortem. The unidentified man is believed to be about 26, is of dark complexion and about 157 centimetres (5ft. 2in) tall. He was wearing black pants, a grey T-shirt and a pair of brown sneakers.