‘Gangsters killed in Bedward Gardens were linked to nearly 20 murders’

The police are saying the men who were killed in exchanges with the security forces in Bedward Gardens, St Andrew on Wednesday were involved in close to 20 murders collectively, and multiple other shootings before they were cut down during an hours-long gun battle in the volatile community.

Information from the authorities is that on March 10, a joint police-military team embarked on an intelligence-driven and targeted operation with the aim of apprehending members of the Bedward Gardens-based ‘Berry Gang’.

The police, in a release, said that for months, the men who were members of the notorious gang have been directing terror at residents of August Town, Papine, Tavern and other neighbouring communities.

During the operation, the men opened gunfire on members of the security forces, injuring one member of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

“Thanks to the superior training and experience of the JCF/JDF team, five of the gunmen were shot and killed, while seven weapons, including high-powered assault rifles and pistols, were seized,” the JCF release stated.

Among the gangsters who died during the operation was the reputed gang leader, Collin Mingoes, otherwise called ‘Speng’. He was previously charged with the June 2011 murder of Michael Jonas, otherwise called ‘Duche’, along August Town Road.

Mingoes was also implicated in the murder of Ripton Jones, otherwise called ‘Frazer’ or ‘Uzzy’, on Monday, April 6, 2020 along University Road in August Town, and that of Conniel Henry, otherwise called ‘Gaza’, of Bedward Gardens, on Sunday August 20, 2020.

The reputed gang leader was also identified as one of the men who opened fire on members of the JDF on Sunday, March 7, 2021 at the intersection of June Road and Barrett Drive in August Town.

Jelani Palmer, otherwise called ‘Short Boss’, was reputed to have been a prominent member of the gang who was previously charged with the April 2018 murder of Gary McGregor, otherwise called ‘Blims’, along Mona Road, St Andrew.

He was also implicated in a quintuple murder on January 26, 2018 along Mona Road, which involved the deaths of Ricardo Manhertz, otherwise called ‘Nakia’; Ricardo Clarke, otherwise called ‘Ricky Ticky’ and ‘Ricky’; Akeem Sanchez, Jason Waller and Victor McKenzie.

Additionally, Palmer was implicated in the shooting of two other men, also committed on Friday, January 26, 2018 along Mona Road; as well as the shooting of another man on May 14, 2020 along Escarpment Road.

Oniel Dixon, otherwise called ‘Day Day’, was being sought by the police in connection with the August 2019 killing of Wayne Robert Riley Jr along the August Town main road. Dixon was also one of the subjects of investigations into two shooting incidents in 2019.

He was identified as one of the men who fired on members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) from the St Andrew Central Surge Team on March 1, 2019.

Palmer was also implicated in the August 22, 2019 shooting of a man along the August Town main road.

Tafari Dell, otherwise called ‘Jani’, was said to have been a prominent member of the Berry Gang who was designated as being wanted for the shooting with intent and wounding with intent of two men on March 16, 2019 along Golding Avenue in the vicinity of the Hope Institute, and was named as a person of interest in the May 1, 2020 murder of Marcus Walsh, otherwise called ‘Rude Bwoy’, along August Town Road.

Through the use of CCTV footage, Dell was also implicated in a case of robbery with aggravation, which was committed on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at about 9 am, at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

Akeem McLean, otherwise called ‘Teelow’, was another reputed prominent member of the gang who was identified as one of the men who opened fire at members of the JDF on Sunday, March 7, 2021 at the intersection of June Road and Barrett Drive in August Town.

The release from the JCF said while one of the broad objectives of the constabulary’s Counter-Gang Strategy continues to be the apprehension of alleged gangsters and placing them before the courts, “we will continue to utilise intelligence, science and technology to neutralise such threats with appropriate use of force.

“We would like to thank the law-abiding citizens for their continued co-operation and the adherence to the rule of law,” the JCF release further stated.