by Dwayne Mcleod, Staff Reporter

After pointing fingers in different directions, men from the Jarrett Lane area in Mountain View, St. Andrew, are now looking into their own circles following the death of Gregory 'Palla' Thompson, their reputed area leader.

Police reports summarise that on October 21, 'Palla' was at a house in Johnson Common, St. James, when two armed thugs entered and opened fire, hitting him.

Upon visiting Jarrett Lane recently, residents were tight-lipped about the situation. However, THE STAR managed to get word from the few who were willing to share information.

One man, Sammy, explained that Palla's death could not have only been the work of men from another area. Sammy along with other individuals who were seen at a premises along the lane are of the firm belief that there was some involvement of 'informers'.

"If yu think bout it seriously yu will understand weh we a come from ... When Palla a lef out him neva tell nobody. Dat simple mean seh a somebody from ya so who si him a lef out mek man from outta port know seh him a lef out now," Sammy explained, before adding " a jus logics eno, jus think bout it."

Similar was the claim of another well-known thug from the community, who, though tight-lipped, had no second thoughts about telling THE STAR that "shot ago fire" whenever the truth surfaces.

"That's all me can tell yuh rite now; wi nuh too inna di bag a talking, wi mus find out a who eno, memba me seh dat," he added before advising THE STAR to leave.

Thanks to the security forces, however, criminal activities in the area were drastically hindered as a curfew had been in effect for about one week, and, based on information, there has been increased police presence in the area.

In a previous statement, head of the Kingston Eastern Division, Superintendent Assan Thompson, had noted that areas such as Jarrett Lane were of major concern to the police and as such were being combed in search of illegal firearms.

Crime chief of the division, Deputy Superintendent of Police Michael Ellis, mentioned to THE STAR that he was indeed aware of the men's finger-pointing and has picked up on the tension in the area.

According to the crime chief, "People are saying that the man (Palla) could have been trailed." He, however, pointed out that the police are still doing their own investigations and are neither able to establish a motive for Palla's killing nor identify any suspect(s).

Meanwhile, the East Kingston police maintained that they have mobilised their patrol in the area, in case of any flare-up of violence.

*Name changed upon request