Two members of the feared Klansman Gang were fatally shot during a gun battle with the police on Saturday November 28.
One of the men has been identified as Cornell McKenzie, otherwise called ‘CJ’, while the other man is identified as Dennis Francis, otherwise called ‘Steve’; both of Spanish Town addresses.
As the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Special Counter-Gang Task Force continues its push to disrupt and dismantle the St. Catherine-based gang, a team consisting of members from Specialized Operations, SWAT and St Catherine North police conducted targeted operations in the King Street section of Spanish Town on Saturday.
Acting on intelligence, the police team moved to intercept McKenzie and other top-tier members of the gang. During the operation, several men travelling in a Nissan motorcar confronted the police with gunfire. The police took evasive actions, return the gunfire and two of the men were shot and injured, while the other men escaped. The injured men were assisted to the Spanish Town hospital where they eventually succumbed.
One .38 revolver firearm with three .38 cartridges along with one (1) spent casing were recovered from one of the deceased men.
Meanwhile, the members of the Special Counter-Gang Task Force have arrested 29-year old hairdresser, Shanique Thompson. She was arrested during a targeted operation at her home on November 17, 2020 and subsequently charged with Money Laundering and Possession of Criminal Property.
Thompson has since been released on $500,000.00 bail and is to return to court on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Under the condition of her bail, her travel documents have been seized, a stop order has been placed at the international airports, and her bank accounts have been frozen.
Shanique Thompson is believed to be a high-ranking member of the Klansman Gang. She is known to be the spouse of the reputed leader; Tesha Miller. Thompson is also the daughter of the mother of one of Tesha Miller’s children.
Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Crime Portfolio, Fitz Bailey, is commending investigators for the quality of work conducted as the Constabulary moves to dismantle gangs across the country. “The quality of investigative work that we have conducted has been of the highest standard. The precision with which we have identified, pursued and apprehended targets has been first class and has helped achieve major successes in disrupting the activities of this criminal organization,” said Bailey.
DCP Bailey is again insisting that the Constabulary will continue to pursue persons who operate at all levels of criminal organizations. “Criminal gangs thrive because there are supported by a wide network of individuals. We are determined to pursue those persons who facilitate the business side of the criminal enterprise. You may not have blood on your hands, but you are a part of the gang, and we are coming for you,” DCP Bailey warned.
