Police kill Westmoreland’s most wanted in gun battle
Published:Saturday | September 7, 2024 | 12:14 AMAdrian Frater/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Carlington ‘Tommy’ Godfrey, who was one of the prime targets on the Westmoreland police’s most wanted list for a series of crimes, including multiple murders committed in several communities across the parish, was killed in an alleged gunfight with the police yesterday.
Godfrey, who was feared by even his own cronies in the underworld because of his fiery temper and his willingness to shoot even his own friends when he was provoked, had engaged the police in several gun battles before his last stand yesterday.
Westmoreland was in the spotlight on Thursday when the fragile peace in Grange Hill, where Godfrey is based, was shattered with a double murder.
The Westmoreland police now believe they have given residents of the parish one more reason to be assured that they are determined to rid the parish of high-profile gangsters.
“He was the target of several targeted operations within the Westmoreland division over a number of years,” said Superintendent Shaunjaye Mitchell, the officer in charge of the Negril Police Station.
“He was wanted for murders, shootings, robberies, rapes and numerous other criminal activities within the parish, and he has been featured on the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s ‘Wanted Wednesday’ campaign for a number of weeks, even months.”
According to reports, shortly after 8 a.m. yesterday, a police team, acting on information, went to a location in the parish, where they encountered Godfrey. He reportedly engaged the officers in a gunfight, during which a cop was shot and injured.
When the shooting ended, Godfrey was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He, along with the injured cop, was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead and the police officer admitted in a stable condition.
‘A BIG WIN’
“We considered this a successful operation, as Godfrey has been wreaking havoc in the parish of Westmoreland, especially in the Frome and Grange Hill areas, where he has featured in a number of violent incidents, including shooting at the police,” said Superintendent Mitchell.
“The success of this operation is a testament to the fact that criminals are not welcome in Westmoreland or anywhere in Area One. This is a big win not only for the parish of Westmoreland, but also the entire Area One, where he has been a main feature of numerous operations.”
Based on the latest statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Westmoreland is currently second to St James with murders and shootings across the 19 police divisions. The violence is primarily being driven by the King Valley Gang and the Ants Posse Gang, who are locked in a bloody turf war in Grange Hill.