And just as Flores was expiring at the KHMH – a hail of gunfire
resounded in the area of Faber’s Road and Kraal Road. The frightening
sound sent residents who were drinking their morning coffee diving for cover.
When they peered out to see what had happened – a man lay dead on the
street. The body was that of 34 year old Dean Tillett – older brother
of the Tillett’s of the notorious George Street crew. Tillett was also
of a George Street Address but he died a ways from home. And police suspect
his killing could have been connected to the shooting of Jason Flores an hour
earlier. Jacqueline Godwin found out more.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
When 7News arrived on the scene the police had already secured the crime scene
but the lifeless body of Dean Tillett could be seen on the ground lying faced
up with his feet partly on his bicycle handle. He was clad only in a green short
and a white undershirt.
Dean Tillett was standing by this bus stop at the corner of Kraal Road when
he was shot several times to the head and abdomen. The killing occurred just
a short distance away from the residence of today’s first homicide victim
Michael Jason Flores and around the same time he died at the KHMH. It is not 
certain if Dean Tillett, a resident of George Street was involved in the shooting
of Michael Jason Flores or what was he doing in the neighbourhood but again
police strongly suspect there is a connection.
Clement Palacio, Police Press Officer
“We know that it appears to be an escalation in the rivalry in the
gang members, therefore the Police Department has embarked operations in dealing
with targeting these type of people that are involved.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“What operations are we talking about?”
Clement Palacio,
“Based on the circumstances that happened this morning, they saw it
fit to launch operations on persons involved in gang style life and to try to
mitigate through the CYDP and other police agencies and to definitely improve
what might be the perception in that regard.”
George Street residents are not talking nor the victim’s family but police
are hoping that through dialogue they can stop the killings among rival groups.
Clement Palacio,
“But we can say that we definitely will be looking at the mitigation
and the conflict resolution between rival groups in the city. That is our big
concern at the moment and of course it will be a carrot and stick approach,
we will try to have negotiations with who we can but also the Police Department
will be very very vigilant towards those who want to maintain this type of lifestyle,
if you want to call it that.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“When you saw negotiations with who you can, who specifically are you
talking about?”
Clement Palacio,
“From time to time whenever these situations arise, what happens is
that the conflict resolution team with the CYDP always engages from within the
Police Department engages these guys to try to ask them to cool it down because
what happens is there are retaliatory shootings from time to time and you know
it has the entire society in uproar.
The Police Department has been embarking for quite some time, I can say
within the last year and a half we’ve been actively engaging with these
gang members and there are times when it becomes a very debatable matter, you
have situations whereby people will agree that we should talk and others will
disagree. In the case of the task force that the Prime Minister had appointed
to deal with the crime situation, that is part of the ongoing strategy that
has been used. The debate goes on but something must be done.”
Police have detained one person for questioning. Jacqueline Godwin
reporting for 7News.
Email
Print