RESIDENTS of Portmore Lane and its environs in Portmore, St Catherine, on learning of last Thursday's conviction of Shawn McFarlane, allegedly a member of Southboro's Love gang, expressed relief on the weekend that another member of the notorious outfit has been brought to justice.
McFarlane, reportedly a cousin of the gang's alleged leader, André 'Dugu' Love, was held with an illegal firearm during a dragnet by the St Catherine South Police's Special Operations Team, last May.
There were no cries of 'We want justice' when The STAR visited the community days after McFarlane was convicted in the Kingston Gun Court.
In a rare twist, residents openly praised the cops for the operation, which spared McFarlane's life and that of a 12-year-old child, who he had used as a ruse while tossing a fully loaded 9mm pistol over a zinc fence.
"Memba seh di police dem cum buck up di man wid a big fat nine in a him hand, plus him have a pickney wid him, undah sykes, di man dem could a dun him. Mi a in- di-streets-youth, an mi a tell yu, straight up," remarked a shirtless male.
Investigating officer Joel Jones and District Constable Jason McKay on Thursday testified that McFarlane, when cornered, was caught tossing a 9mm pistol.
more concerned
Jones, the cops said, held McFarlane while McKay retrieved the fully loaded magazine containing 12 rounds and one chambered.
On Saturday, an elderly resident sitting by a bar praised the cops, more concerned about the 12-year-old who had escaped harm. "Wi don't even know wha could a did happen to di pickney if di police dem neva know weh dem a do. A lucky boy dat," he said.
Superintendent Terrence Sancko, officer in charge of operations, St Catherine South, told The STAR the Love gang's main players are "under police control'.
"They operate in the Newland, Naggo Head general area. We have two brothers in custody and now a relative convicted. There might be remnants out there, but we will continue to do our intelligence checks to find out where they are," he said.
Ballistics tests done on the weapon seized from McFarlane, police sources told The STAR, indicated that the gun had featured in multiple incidents involving the gang.
Oshane 'Grabba' Love, brother of André Love, was charged for murder committed against a garage operator in the community of Portmore Lane. The Love gang is said to have been tied to more than 27 murders against rivals as well as businesses which refuse to pay extortion in the area.
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