The State on Tuesday intensified its investigation into the Cherry Tree Lane massacre with the addition of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) in keeping with Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s vow that the killers will be caught and made to face the full force of the law.

“MOCA will be contributing intelligence, investigative and cyber forensic support to ensure that every possible lead is pursued and that justice is served,” MOCA’s Director of Communications Major Basil Jarrett told the Jamaica Observer.

Jarrett pointed to the arrest of four men on Monday in Four Paths, Clarendon, in connection with the seizure of an illegal gun, and noted that two of them have since been charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

“What is important to note about this particular arrest and charge was that the men were picked up by members of the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) foot patrol team. What this demonstrates is that, despite how tense the area is, these men are still a threat. It also suggests that they are very intent on carrying out criminal activity and so it is very important that we maintain this presence in the community,” Jarrett said.

Within a few hours of a 96-hour curfew being imposed in Four Paths on Monday, the four men who were travelling on two motorcycles were caught and pinned down by members of the JDF and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The law enforcers firstly intercepted two of the men, who they suspected were spotters responsible for telling the other two men the location of the security forces in the community. However, they drove straight into the hands of police and soldiers and did not get to alert their friends.

Police said the other two men, who had the gun, were trying to make their way past the security checkpoint when they were nabbed. One of them allegedly attempted to dispose of a bag containing the weapon but it was quickly retrieved and they were handcuffed.

The curfew was imposed following Sunday night’s mass shooting in Cherry Tree Lane, which is located in Four Paths.

Eight people, including a seven-year-old boy, were shot dead by at least three gunmen who had invaded the community while a birthday celebration and a game of bingo was in full swing outside the First Lady HQ bar. Nine other people were shot and injured in the attack.

Law enforcers said that the men on the motorbikes were on their way to exact revenge for the mass killing.

The deceased have been identified as seven-year-old Aiden Bartley; 27-year-old Kavel Daley; 50-year-old Lawrence Francis; 20-year-old Diamond Bennett; 68-year-old Errol Stewart; 32-year-old Jermaine Boothe; Courtney Messam; and a woman known only as Margaret.

On Monday, following a meeting of the National Security Council, Prime Minister Holness declared a “total assault on gangs” across the island and pledged that the “Government will use this opportunity to deal with the gangs once and for all”.

“We will not treat this as another criminal act; we will treat this as an act of terror. Therefore, we have given directions to the security forces to launch an all-out assault on the gangs that are involved,” Holness told journalists at an emergency press briefing at Jamaica House.

On Tuesday, Major Jarrett appealed to Jamaicans to provide the authorities with any information related to the atrocity.

“It is very important that the public gives us the support that we need. Cherry Tree Lane is a very small area and you don’t carry out an act like this without someone knowing about it, and so we ask the public to use the MOCA tip line (888-MOCA-tip) as well as Crime Stop (311) to help us bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.

Also on Tuesday, a resident of Four Paths told the Observer that the community has been blanketed by police and soldiers.

“There is a whole lot of soldiers and police. The area has been tense. This morning a few people were on the road, but by the time I went out and came back the roads were completely empty. The police and soldiers are up and about,” the resident said.

“I don’t know about any other arrests other than the four men from Monday. The baby that people were saying is dead, is actually okay. The mother said the baby only got a graze on the shoulder. Two other young men who were injured, one of them is due for surgery next week. People still crying and grieving. There is nothing really you can say right now for persons to feel comfort, but you still have to try,” the resident said.

One woman, who was shot and injured in the incident on Sunday, told the
Observer that she was running when she felt something slam into her leg.

“I said, ‘Yes, Jesus Christ, mi get shot.’ I got shot just below my left buttock and it flew through the groin area at the front. My hand back cut up [but] I didn’t fall down so I don’t know if it was caused by a wire in the fence or something,” she said.