Jamaican authorities have imposed a 48-hour curfew in sections of Ellerslie Pen and Tawes Meadows, Spanish Town, St. Catherine, following the fatal shooting of an alleged gang leader by the police.
According to several reports, the man, known as “AD,” was a member of the One Order Gang.
The curfew, which began at 6:00 p.m. today, will remain in effect until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5. Residents within the designated boundaries are required to remain indoors unless granted special authorization by security forces.
Curfew boundaries
The restricted area is defined as follows:
- North: From the roundabout along the Spanish Town Bypass to the Williams Street intersection.
- East: From the Williams Street and Spanish Town Bypass intersection to French Street.
- South: From French Street and Williams Street to Oxford Road and Spanish Town Bypass.
- West: From the Oxford Road and Spanish Town Bypass intersection back to the roundabout.
This is the second curfew in Spanish Town in less than two weeks.
A similar measure was enforced in late January following the killing of Othneil Lobban, also known as “Thickman,” the reputed leader of the One Order Gang. Lobban, who was on the National Joint Anti-Gang Task Force’s list of top five most wanted individuals, was shot and killed during a police operation in Six Miles, St. Andrew.
Authorities say Lobban played a major role in orchestrating violent crimes across St. Catherine, Kingston, and other parishes. His death has sparked unrest, with police reporting attempted disruptions by his supporters.
Following his killing, several businesses in Spanish Town shuttered operations for a day, and the Courts Bargain Centre furniture store on Young Street was set on fire.
Since then, the police and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) have ramped up their presence in the area, reassuring the public that security measures are in place to maintain order.