It was a night of terror and fear in Beecher Town, St Ann on Friday, June 3, as gunmen reportedly went on a rampage breaking into houses, robbing residents of valuables and, in one case, reportedly even raped a resident.Reports are that gunmen entered the area, near Ocho Rios, at around 7 p.m. in two cars. A number of residents were robbed of possessions, including cash, by the gunmen.
There were reports that gunshots were fired before the men left the community.One resident from the Beecher Town community, who spoke on the basis that his identity be withheld, explained that he along with other residents of the area, made several attempts to get the services of the police through the 119 number, but they were not given much help.
“Di police woman say she nuh know where Beecher Town is and mi tell her that it near to Ocho Rios, and she put me on to Ochi police and dem a say dem nuh know where Beecher town deh. A lady even try St Ann’s Bay police and a di same ting dem tell we dat dem nuh know where Beecher Town deh,” explained the man.
He contends that if the police had responded quickly, some of the gunmen would have been caught.
The resident, who added that he heard several gunshots, further explained that while he was not robbed of any items, a relative of his was. He went on to point out that his cousin, who lives in another section of the Beecher Town community lost his laptop computer, his DVD player and a sum of cash he had in his house. “Him cum home about 10 di night and find him house door open. Him say things scatter about inside like dem did a try search fi more money,” the man explained.
TEEN RAPED
An 18-year-old girl was reportedly raped in the attack on the community by the gunmen on Friday night.
According to councillor for the Beecher Town division, Ian Bell, the teen was reportedly raped by three of the gunmen. She was taken by police to the hospital, where she was treated and released.Bell explained that the rapists have not yet been caught.
The police are still carrying out their investigations to catch the criminals behind Friday night’s robberies and rape in the Beecher Town area.
