Two Houses Set Ablaze by Gangsters in St Catherine

Two houses were gutted by fire on Thursday morning in Homestead, Spanish Town, leaving one elderly woman injured. Residents and Councilor for the division Mark McLean say the properties were set ablaze by community gangsters.

The arson attack left a 72-year-old woman hospitalized and two families now homeless and terrified. CVM LIVE understands this attack is part of a gang feud, which the Councilor for the Homestead division says has been wreaking havoc in the community for months.

Charred items and torched walls are the only remains of one house, as the blaze completely flattened the property. One of its six occupants says he never imagined this could happen. He says he migrated to Jamaica from Guyana decades ago, and has made a life for himself. Now, he says he will have to start all over.

Meanwhile, Matriarch for the other home that was gutted by fire, says violence in the community is at an all-time high. She says she has lived in the community for fifty-two years, and vows she has never seen crime spur so much out of control since then.

The incident has displaced nine persons in total. Watch the report here:

Reporter: Velonique Bowen