One of two men who were fatally shot in a confrontation with the police on Thursday, January 18 has been identified as Christopher Shields, otherwise called ‘Gang Bang’, a man investigators described as “a prolific contract killer.”
In giving an update on the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Fitz Bailey, who is in charge of the crime and security portfolio, outlined several incidents of robberies and shootings in which Shields had been the main suspect.
The latest incident was a multi-million-dollar robbery in Westmoreland on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.
Shields was also linked to the murder of 35-year-old Romie Taylor, a taxi operator of Burnt Savannah, Frome, Westmoreland who was gunned down on Baulk Road, Stand Pipe in the parish on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.
Shields was also implicated in the murder of 37-year-old Davroy Barnes, otherwise called ‘DJ Myrie’, a disc jockey of Mango Hill, Little London, in the parish. Barnes was shot and killed on Broughton Road, Westmoreland just one hour after Taylor’s murder.
Shields was also suspected of being involved in the murders of 20-year-old Kerrick Moodie and 22-year-old Keneisha Moodie, siblings of Grange Hill district, Westmoreland who went missing on Friday, December 08, 2023.
In his update, DCP Bailey commended the team of officers who went in pursuit of Shields and his accomplice.
“I must commend the officers who have constantly risked their lives to ensure that Jamaica is a safe place. It’s not an easy time to be engaged in these types of activities when you are certain the men that you are confronting are men who are armed with weapons. We are aware that this
criminal oftentimes travelled with high-powered weapons—M16 rifles,” DCP Bailey said.
Two 9mm pistols and a quantity of ammunition were seized in yesterday’s incident. Shields’s alleged accomplice remains unidentified. The two were fatally shot when a police team assigned to the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigations Branch (C-TOC) attempted to
intercept a Toyota Probox motor car with two men aboard at the intersection of Spanish Town Bypass and Salt Pond main road in St Catherine.
The men refused to stop and they were pursued to Braeton, Portmore in St. Catherine, where they confronted the police team and were fatally
shot.
DCP Bailey encouraged persons to continue to support the police. Persons who have information on guns, gangs, and gunmen can call Crime Stop at 311, the NIB tip line at 811, the police 119 emergency number or any police station.
