Jamaican city gripped by violence after police shooting of gang boss
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Spanish Town brought to standstill amid gunfire on streets after police kill Othneil ‘Thickman’ Lobban. Schools and businesses in a Jamaican city have been closed and taxis and buses stopped running after the police shooting of a powerful gang boss prompted a violent backlash.
Gunfire echoed throughout Spanish Town on Thursday and at least one business was burned hours after police shot dead Othneil “Thickman” Lobban, whom they described as a top leader of the One Order gang. The government said authorities were placed under an extreme threat level as a result of the killing.
Jamaica’s constabulary force said it was “working diligently to ensure the safety and security of all citizens. “We urge citizens to remain calm and to cooperate with the security forces as they work to maintain peace and stability in the area,” the force said in a statement.
Police and soldiers patrolled the streets of Spanish Town on Thursday, though they remained largely empty as schools, businesses and government agencies closed as a precaution. Bus and taxi companies withdrew their services from the affected areas. Police noted that as they pursued Lobban, residents in one community organized a protest, blocked roads and damaged several official vehicles.
The pursuit comes after the government ordered a crackdown on gangs following recent mass shootings. Footage filmed on Tuesday and shared on social media showed police officers firing warning shots as a crowd of locals jeered and threw stones and bottles at them.
