The police have charged 23-year-old Tyrese Taylor, otherwise called ‘Reddy’, of Dover Avenue, Gregory
Park, who they says is linked to gang attacks that occurred in Gregory Park, St Catherine in 2021 and 2023.

Several charges were laid against Taylor, a member of the ‘Chargie Badness Gang’ following his arrest on Thursday, May 30.

He has been charged with: four counts of murder, assault at common law, unlawful wounding, aiding and abetting, facilitating the commission of an applicable offence by a criminal organization, principal in the first degree, being a participant in a criminal organization, making use of a firearm to commit a felony, possession of a prohibited weapon, his court date is being finalized, arson, unauthorized possession of ammunition and shooting with intent.

Reports are that on August 9, 2021, Taylor and other members of the gang, armed with firearms, went to a restaurant and opened fire, hitting 39-year-old Omar Ricketts of Christian Pen, Gregory Park, St Catherine, before they escaped on foot in the area.

The police were summoned, and Ricketts was taken to the hospital where he died.

On December 18, 2021, around 9:30 am, Taylor and other gang members entered a premises in the community, held two men at gunpoint, and bound their hands with electrical cords.

One of the victims was allegedly beaten before the armed men proceeded to another premises. There, they held another man at gunpoint, decapitated him with a machete, and escaped with the severed head.

The deceased was identified as 30-year-old Rafiel Natty of Job Lane, Spanish Town, St. Catherine. His severed head was discovered hours later by residents on Cottage Drive in Gregory Park. The men who were bound by the attackers managed to free themselves and alerted the police.

In 2023, Taylor and other members of the gang went to Walkers Avenue in Gregory Park, St. Catherine, around 3:00 am on August 12, where they shot and killed 28-year-old Raneel Haughton, a taxi operator of Walkers Avenue.

The assailants then made their way to another premises on Walkers Avenue where they set several homes on fire, injuring 72-year-old Niomi Gocul, who later died from severe burns she sustained during the incident.

Taylor was apprehended during an operation in the parish and, following a question-and-answer interview after which charges were laid against him.

The police says it continues to search for the other suspects involved in the incident.