Cops bracing for reprisal as slain man’s family mourns
SANDY BAY, Clarendon — The Clarendon police say they are bracing for a possible reprisal after Wednesday gun attack in Sandy Bay, where three people were shot, one fatally.
According to the police, for more than a month there has been an ongoing feud between warring factions in the Bucks Town and Derby Terrace communities, which escalated Wednesday.
The shooting claimed the life of 26-year-old Dwayne Miller, who is also known as Whisker. A 19-year-old and a 31-year-old remain in hospital for injuries during the gun attack. The incident took place about 10:50 pm.
According to investigators, all three were on Derby Terrace, in the vicinity of a shop when they saw two men — both clad in hooded jackets — walking towards the group. The men pulled handguns and shot at the trio; all three were hit on various parts of their bodies. Five spent casings were recovered from the scene.
On Thursday, one of Miller’s relatives spoke of the struggles he has had with mental illness since leaving high school. It is what kept him on the streets.
“At one point him did a gwaan bad and we bring him go doctor and him get medication. Next time him take sick and just stay one place; sun come burn him, rain come wet him. Him just deh here one place until him stop talking,” the relative said.
The family member recalled the harrowing moment she received the devastating news that Miller was killed.
“I was inside my house and I got a call from a family friend saying Whisker dead. Mi bawl out and fling weh di phone an say, ‘Weh yah tell me dat fah?’ and mi start cry. My daughter went on the scene and called back and say, ‘Yes, a Whisker, and him dead’,” the relative recalled.
He could often be seen at the location where he was killed, the relative added.
“We give him dinner down here and him walk go up there go eat it, they love him up there. Him always say dem treat him good inna the street. It’s hard for the family. We never expect say Dwayne a guh dead, worse by a gunshot, never in a million years. We know him have him sickness and him don’t really stay one place but a just him that and him naa stay home,” said the grieving family member.