A 2-year-old boy and a 25-year-old businessman were killed, and another individual was injured during a drive-by in St Andrew’s Maverley community on Monday night. The investigation into the double homicide led to the police determining that the shooting stemmed from a years-long conflict between rival gangs in the area.
The victims have been identified as toddler Tajaun Jackson and Grenmeade Road businessman Kimarley “Beans” Powell. Police reports indicate that the two were seated at the entrance of a premises on Grenmeade Road, along with another man, when gunmen opened fire from a Nissan AD wagon.
According to investigators, the three were sitting on a board bench around 7:15 p.m. when gunmen drove into the lane. The vehicle drove to the end of the road before circling back to where they were, which was when the perpetrators unleashed a barrage of gunfire at them.
The trio were found suffering from gunshot wounds by residents, who quickly took them to the hospital. However, doctors confirmed that the toddler and Powell were dead. The third person, an unidentified man, remains hospitalised in serious condition.
The brazen attack has reignited tensions in Maverley, an area long plagued by disputes between rival factions. Acting Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Damion Manderson, who heads the St Andrew South Police Division, confirmed that the killings are directly linked to the feud between the “top” and “bottom” Maverley gangs.
Manderson explained that the investigation points to an ongoing gang feud in Maverley, where rival groups from Grenmeade and surrounding areas have been locked in a years-long conflict between “top” and “bottom” factions.
Manderson highlighted that the community had gone six months without a violent flare-up, with the last reported shooting taking place in February. He described the killings as a setback but stressed that the police’s work with community stakeholders would continue.
Police say the search is on for two suspects believed to be behind the deadly gun attack. One is Courtney Ashley, better known in the community as “Bloodstain”, who has been on the most wanted list for some time. Ashley is also said to answer to nicknames such as “Evil”, “Alien”, and “Biggs”. The second suspect, referred to only as “Miller” or “Max”, is also being sought.
Manderson urged Ashley and Miller to surrender immediately, encouraging them to do so through trusted intermediaries if they fear approaching the police directly. “Find a justice of the peace. Find a teacher. Find a pastor… somebody you can trust to take you in,” he appealed.
The senior officer also called on residents to stop shielding the fugitives, stressing that sheltering them only endangers the wider community. Police are asking anyone with information on Ashley and Miller’s whereabouts to contact Crime Stop at 311, police emergency at 911, the JCF tip-line at 811, or the nearest police station.
