A young man in Manchester was gunned down inside his home after gunmen forcefully entered early Tuesday. The attack occurred in the Canewood district of Comfort Hall, several days after another farmer was killed in the same area.
Police say that around 1:05 a.m., armed men kicked in the front door of 30-year-old Ojay Gooden’s home. The exact number of assailants is unclear, but reports say they began shooting at Gooden, striking him multiple times.
After the attack, the assailants reportedly set fire to his grey 2003 Toyota Corolla. Investigators are exploring whether the incident is linked to a previous murder in Canewood on October 12, when another farmer, Shyan Young, also known as “Shane”, was found dead on a roadway. Young had been brutally attacked with a chopping instrument, and his dog was killed as well.
The repeated violence in Canewood, a community known for being peaceful, has left residents shocked. Councillor Rohan Kennedy of the Mile Gully division described the incidents as deeply disturbing, noting the growing concern over a pattern of deadly crimes in the area.
Adding to public unease is the issue of gunmen impersonating police officers. Earlier this month, a mass shooting occurred in Linstead, St Catherine, where assailants dressed in police uniforms opened fire at a location known locally as “Big Yard”. Nine people were shot, five of whom, including a 4-year-old girl, Shannon Gordon, died from their injuries. The other deceased were Mario Sullivan, Jushane Edwards, Iysha Washington, and Famous Amos, a security guard.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Christopher Phillips, who oversees Area 5, expressed concern over the rise of criminals dressing as law enforcement. He indicated that such impersonation poses a serious threat to public safety. Police are investigating the Linstead shooting as part of an ongoing gang conflict, with a team of top investigators working to uncover the motive behind the attack.