A man connected to a drive-by last Tuesday in Central Kingston was fatally shot by police on Monday. Police identified the man as Joshua “Southie” Lawrence, one of the prime suspects in the mass shooting that left six people, including two children, injured.
Lawrence’s death came less than a week after the violent attack that shook residents of Charles Street and Tex Lane. According to Acting Commissioner of Police, Michael Phipps, the 28-year-old was killed during an intelligence-led operation on Maiden Street in Kingston 16.
According to reports, Lawrence was a reputed member of the Wellys Kelly gang, a group known to operate out of eastern Kingston. Investigators described him as one of the gang’s most active enforcers, accused of carrying out attacks on its behalf. Lawrence had long been on the police’s radar, accused of playing a major role in a series of violent crimes that unsettled communities in the east.
One of the six victims from last week’s drive-by, 23-year-old Jador Campbell, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, raising the death toll to one. Campbell was among several individuals, including two nine-year-old children and two teenagers, who were shot when gunmen drove up and opened fire.
In response to the mass shooting, police have increased patrols in the area and are closely monitoring key locations to prevent further violence. Head of the Kingston Central Police Division, Beresford Williams, emphasised that officers are working proactively to maintain safety and reassure the public.
Authorities are calling on anyone involved in last Tuesday’s shooting to come forward voluntarily, stressing that law enforcement is determined to hold all those responsible accountable. ACP Phipps emphasised that officers remain actively pursuing leads and will continue to investigate all connections to the attack and other serious offences in the Area Four Police Division.