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James Lawes murder case file

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James Lawes

Age: 26Gang affiliation: None reported by police.Date of shooting: Friday, March 19, 2010.Time: Just before 11pm.Location: The parking lot of Place’s Place, Dundonald Street, Pembroke.What happened: Two people on a motorcycle rode along the sidewalk on Court Street and, at the car park adjacent to the Jamaican Grill restaurant, began chasing a man, who got away from them. They then rode along Court Street at speed, turned onto Dundonald Street and then onto Union Street. The riders entered the car park on Dundonald Street adjacent to Place’s Place and rode along the sidewalk toward a group of men who had congregated in front of an alleyway between the bar and a barber shop. The pillion passenger on the bike got off and began shooting at the group. Mr Lawes and two other men were injured when 11 bullets were fired. The shooter then mounted the cycle and made off with his accomplice towards Court Street, heading north and again travelling at speed. The murder victim died overnight on March 20.Victim died from: A gunshot wound to the stomach. Mr Lawes was also shot in the leg.Other casualties: Maurice Martin and Robin Stovell.Weapon: A semi-automatic handgun using Luger 9mm ammunition, which was used to kill Troy (Yankee) Rawlins on August 9, 2010, has been linked through expert analysis of shells and cases from the Rawlins murder scene to the murder of Mr Lawes. It has been linked to four other unsolved shootings, including the slaying of Kimwandae Walker less than two weeks after the murder of Mr Lawes, but has not been recovered.Description of suspects: Two males on a dark motorcycle.Alleged motive: Detective Chief Inspector Nicholas Pedro says: “We haven’t been able to determine a particular reason for these particular men to have been shot at. It certainly seems as though the firing was indiscriminate.” Other murders involving the same weapon those of Mr Rawlins and Mr Walker are considered part of an ongoing feud between rival Pembroke gangs 42 and Parkside.Retaliatory attacks: A leading member of 42 was shot and injured on Mission Lane, Pembroke, a little more than a week after the murder of Mr Lawes.Arrests: A 30-year-old Smith’s parish man was arrested and bailed pending further inquiries.Witness appeal: Police say there were a lot of people in the vicinity that night and they remain interested in speaking with anyone who saw anything suspicious, no matter how insignificant it may have seemed at the time.Who to call: If you have any information that could help solve this murder contact the Serious Crime Unit on 247-1340 or the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 800-8477.