WOMAN DISPUTE CAUSED SHOOTING - British Link-Up shoot-out to defend female's rights - witnesses
rrDesignZ said
10:26 03/26 2008
An argument about a woman, between a high ranking British Link-Up crew member and a well known entertainment figure, is said to be the reason behind the shooting at the British Link-Up dance at La Roose, Portmore, St. Catherine Sunday morning.
One man was shot dead and eight other persons injured after gunshots rang out at the session.
The dead man was identified as Clifton 'Chocutto' Reid, a member of the Arnett Gardens-based Black Roses Crew. Six other persons, including a woman, were shot in the incident, while two others were injured in a stampede which followed.
Patrons who witnessed the incident, told THE STAR that the shooting began following a discussion between the high ranking British Link-Up member and the entertainment figure. "Is like (the British Link-Up member) tell him (entertainment figure) say that a girl say something and him say a lie, so him call Chocutto' and ask him if a nuh so the girl say and Chocutto say 'yeah man a true'. So (entertainment figure) tell Chocutto to .... him madda and (British Link-Up member) tell Chocutto to tell him back and no fraid a him," one witness said.
Licensed firearm holders
He said that when Chocutto answered a gun was pulled and he was shot twice in the head. After he fell he is said to have been shot again.
Another witness said that it was following this that several men, all said to be licensed firearm holders pulled guns and began firing at each other and sending the patrons dashing for cover. In the ensuing melee at least two members of the British Link-up crew and the entertainment figure were shot and injured, the witnesses say.
Efforts to speak with Lena British, the promoter of the show, proved futile, but her publicist, Milk, said that she was "very very upset about the shooting incident" and could not talk. Milk said Lena had some very special guests at the event and was very devastated.
Concerning what happened at the incident, she said from what she gathered, there was a dispute between a woman and a man. During the dispute she said, the woman pulled a knife and the man pulled a gun. She said someone approached the man and told him that any shooting would end the show. She said after this guns were drawn and she immediately left the venue.
Police seized the guns of several licensed firearm holders who were at the venue during the shooting. The weapons will be sent for ballistic tests. Up to late yesterday the police said they were still investigating and could not say what caused the shooting.
Dancer, Ice, a member of the Black Roses Crew, said Chocutto was one of the longest serving members of the group. He said he did not know the circumstances surrounding the shooting but his crew member will be greatly missed. "Is not a yute weh inna nuh badness ting, him well 'beknown' and loving," Ice said. "All him do is go work tings fi himself so him can tek care a him two girls and three yute them."
Asked if the crew will be seeking retaliation for Chocutto's death, Ice said; "Roses nuh inna di war ting, love and unity we a deal wid...We a teach the yute them dancing, modelling, safety and love to di worl' we nah teach nutten bad."
An argument about a woman, between a high ranking British Link-Up crew member and a well known entertainment figure, is said to be the reason behind the shooting at the British Link-Up dance at La Roose, Portmore, St. Catherine Sunday morning.
One man was shot dead and eight other persons injured after gunshots rang out at the session.
The dead man was identified as Clifton 'Chocutto' Reid, a member of the Arnett Gardens-based Black Roses Crew. Six other persons, including a woman, were shot in the incident, while two others were injured in a stampede which followed.
Patrons who witnessed the incident, told THE STAR that the shooting began following a discussion between the high ranking British Link-Up member and the entertainment figure. "Is like (the British Link-Up member) tell him (entertainment figure) say that a girl say something and him say a lie, so him call Chocutto' and ask him if a nuh so the girl say and Chocutto say 'yeah man a true'. So (entertainment figure) tell Chocutto to .... him madda and (British Link-Up member) tell Chocutto to tell him back and no fraid a him," one witness said.
He said that when Chocutto answered a gun was pulled and he was shot twice in the head. After he fell he is said to have been shot again.
Another witness said that it was following this that several men, all said to be licensed firearm holders pulled guns and began firing at each other and sending the patrons dashing for cover. In the ensuing melee at least two members of the British Link-up crew and the entertainment figure were shot and injured, the witnesses say.
Efforts to speak with Lena British, the promoter of the show, proved futile, but her publicist, Milk, said that she was "very very upset about the shooting incident" and could not talk. Milk said Lena had some very special guests at the event and was very devastated.
Concerning what happened at the incident, she said from what she gathered, there was a dispute between a woman and a man. During the dispute she said, the woman pulled a knife and the man pulled a gun. She said someone approached the man and told him that any shooting would end the show. She said after this guns were drawn and she immediately left the venue.
Police seized the guns of several licensed firearm holders who were at the venue during the shooting. The weapons will be sent for ballistic tests. Up to late yesterday the police said they were still investigating and could not say what caused the shooting.
Dancer, Ice, a member of the Black Roses Crew, said Chocutto was one of the longest serving members of the group. He said he did not know the circumstances surrounding the shooting but his crew member will be greatly missed. "Is not a yute weh inna nuh badness ting, him well 'beknown' and loving," Ice said. "All him do is go work tings fi himself so him can tek care a him two girls and three yute them."
Asked if the crew will be seeking retaliation for Chocutto's death, Ice said; "Roses nuh inna di war ting, love and unity we a deal wid...We a teach the yute them dancing, modelling, safety and love to di worl' we nah teach nutten bad."