(Jamaica Star) A St Elizabeth fisherman, Jim* and his little brother, Joe*, are being hailed as community heroes after they disarmed a gunman in their community last week.
“People say we brave but a nuh just brave alone but when yuh life flash before you, yuh just have to do everything to stay alive,” he said.
Jim, 26, said the incident was triggered by a dispute between himself and a member of his community last Wednesday. He said that during the exchange, the other man threatened that he was going to shoot him.
“When him tell mi say him going to shoot, mi tek him serious because he is known to be a bully, and him tell himself say him is a badman in the community. Mi call mi little brother and tell him say let us go home because mi feel really threatened,” Jim said.
MI RUN OFF
He told THE STAR that he and his brother stopped at a shop in the community, and while making a purchase they were surprised by the man.
“Mi run off and when mi a run mi expect to hear a shot or feel myself a fall a ground. But when mi run off and look behind mi, mi see mi bredda hug him up so this way him couldn’t fire any shot. Mi turn back and run back to where they were wrestling and we start wiring up him hands until him finally let it go,” Jim said.
The men relieved their attacker of a gun, which they handed over to the Black River police. Deputy Superintendent Narda Simms, head of the St Elizabeth police, confirmed the incident.
“The man who the brothers had disarmed had fled, but he was held by a team of police later on. He was charged and is still in police custody,” she said.
Jim told THE STAR that persons within the community and elsewhere have been singing his praises. He said the real hero is Joe, arguing that if he had not held on to the gunman, the story could have been different. He also said that although he has been shaken up by the incident, he refuses to walk in fear.
“I am not leaving my home. The police said I should be careful and so on, but I am not leaving my home. This was where I was born and I just have to be strong and face my fear. We have to stand up to some of these people and let them know that they can’t come and take over our space and dominate it with violence,” he said.
*Names changed
