A wicked gun war has erupted between men from Hunts Bay Lane and Majesty 'Back To' Gardens, St. Andrew, over two high-powered weapons.

The guns, residents of both communities tell THE STAR, were apparently taken from men from Majesty Gardens sometime ago and these same men are fighting for their return.

The war reached fever pitch on Monday night, when one man was killed and three brothers were shot and injured. Police identified the dead man as Beady Johnson, a taxi driver in his 20s. Police have identified five men who they want to question in connection with the incident and are asking residents to call them with information about them.

They are Pampa, Webber, Shawn Paul, Biggs and Crox. DSP Michael Phipps, crime chief for St. Andrew South, is asking residents to call him at 779-6189, 375-2768 or 119, 811, or 311 with any information that they might have about the men.

The family of the brothers, who are still in hospital, fled the community shortly after the shootings fearing they will be killed. "Dem tell di modda seh she betta gwaan because dem ago kill off di whola wi," a relative told THE STAR.

Police reports are that at 8 p.m., one of the siblings was at a section of the community known as One Blood when a group of gunmen walked up and opened fire hitting him. He was rushed to hospital where he was hospitalised in a serious condition.

Several shots

Two hours later at 10 pm, men boarded Johnson's taxi and stopped it close to Hunts Bay Lane off Spanish Town Road, then shot him dead.

Less than 20 minutes later, the same gunmen, who reportedly shot the first sibling, went to the family home at a section of Majesty Gardens known as 'Down di Road' where they fired several shots hitting his two brothers.

THE STAR understands that men from 'Down di Road' were accusing one of the brothers who lived there of conspiring with the men from Hunts Bay Lane who took the guns. Despite his claims that he was innocent, he was still shot.

The police confirmed that there have been allegations that shootings occurred because of two missing guns although they could not identify them. However residents claim that an AK 47 rifle and a handgun are at the heart of the dispute.

In the meantime the family is finding tit difficult to cope with the injury of their relatives. The mother of the young men wept through the night worrying about her sons' fate.

Residents in the community say there has been a turf war in the community involving the bottom and top halves of the area. Residents claim the bottom half wants to control the entire community and vowed that there will be no peace until that is done.

However, DSP Phipps said the police, who have been maintaining a presence in the community since the shootings, will be stepping up the thrust. "We will be instituting mobile and foot patrols, both covert and overt," he said.