Cops Hunt Lady "shotta"

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Cops hunt lady 'shotta'

BY FABIAN LEDGISTER, Staff Reporter

AN 18-YEAR-old girl, who has a six-month-old baby, is being touted by some residents and police alike, to be the next 'don' for the community of Havana in Arnett Gardens.

After several incidents of gunfire exchange over the last few months between Havana and Lincoln Avenue (who have aligned themselves with men from nearby community, Angola), some residents say Sasha Payne is feared more than any man.

"Who, Gun-Gal? Is a terrible gal dat man, she a bus more shot dan any a di man dem, memba dat ... nobody nuh wa sen dem pikney guh school an dance stop keep caa everybody fraid," said a resident of Lincoln Avenue.

KEY FIGURE

Police confirm that Sasha is a key figure in the war, and have now put her on their Most Wanted list.

"She is a person of interest, as her name has been called in six to eight shooting incidents ... we would like to especially ask her about one incident in particular where a 12-year-old boy was shot and injured," said head of the Kingston Western Division, Superintendent Delroy Hewitt.

Police said on January 30, about 5:30 p.m., a group of children on a playing field was fired on. One of them, identified as the 12-year-old boy, was injured. He was treated and released from hospital.

Following investigations, Payne and Shane 'Jankro' Johnson (killed by gunmen on June 7, were named by lawmen as wanted for questioning in connection with the incident.

THE WEEKEND STAR located the family of the young boy who lived in the same community touted to be Sasha's stronghold. "Him love him granmada cooking, suh him walk cross di field every day a evening guh check har ... a two side dem a fire shot an him a pass an shot ketch him. Nuh pikney neva out deh a play, an di shot coulda come from any side," said the boy's father, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Although hesitant at first, Sasha eventually agreed to be interviewed in an effort to clear her name and possibly end the war. "Di likkle bwoy coulda tell u a nuh me shoot him, mi neva even deh a da side deh when it gwaan an Hewitt sen police fi bring me in dead or alive," said the fairly attractive teenage girl, who looked even younger than her age. "Mi caan get a comfortable sleep, mi caan get fi see mi yout ... mi have a son an a daughter an dem two babyfather dead suh mi shoulda deh roun dem."

When asked about her bestowed title as the new 'dads' (or 'mums') for Havana, she strongly denied the claims. "Mi nuh waa dem call mi nuh dads, mi can defen miself, an spar roun di man dem an ting," argued Sasha.

These sentiments were confirmed by men from the community, citing that they were forced to defend themselves after alleged "bad mind" from the rival community turned into violence, owing to the recent success of the 'Bill (build) Back Sunday', an Havana dance.

"Is about 11 people dead an eight wounded from da scheme ya alone (Havana housing scheme), true dem see wi dance a gwaan suh wicked ... Sasha a nuh gun-gyal, di whol a di man dem jus rate har as one Ital empress whe vibes 'mongst di yout dem an har name fi clear up," said a resident of Havana.

Prominent Stone Love selector and Havanna resident, Richie Feelings, laments that the war has put a stop on the dance. "A one Jungle eh nuh suh none a we a nuh stranger, an everybody know each other from church or school, a jus some man nuh know demself an a mash it up ... di dance did a bring back di place caa people love di theme fi build up back di place," said the Stone Love selector.

But residents of opposing communities say it was not jealousy for the dance, but the inability of Havana to control the thieves in their area, that caused the war.

COPS STILL SEARCHING

"Lincoln a one order, no tiefing, no raping, dat caa gwaan, di tief dem a Havana all a rob school pikney fi buy shot. Da war did kick off when Jankro come rob one ol woman over yah," said a Lincoln resident.

Whether she is being framed or not police maintain that they will continue searching for Sasha. "I made an appeal to Sasha Payne and 'Cee-Vee-M' (from Lincoln Avenue) to come to the station for questioning, but only Cee-Vee-M responded to say he and his lawyer would come and he didn't turn up ... investigations are ongoing," said Supt. Hewitt.