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Brawl Leads to Murder In City
posted (August 17, 2015)
After cresting in May and June, violence in the city had been on a downswing recently - that was until this weekend when there was a murderous gang brawl on Newtown Barracks near the BTL Park - the spillover from a misunderstanding that had happened at a nearby bar.

After all the fists were thrown - two men lay unconscious - one of them would be dead within hours while the other is still clinging to life tonight. Monica Bodden found out more:..

Desiree Phillips, Assistant Commissioner of Police
"It has to do with an incident that occurred on Saturday August 15th. Shortly after 3am, police responded to a call with regards to a fight in the Newtown Barracks area where several persons were observed with varied degrees of injuries. One person was lying on the ground as a result of that fight. Reportedly a vehicle sped off from the area and ran over this person that was lying on the ground. Of the 5 persons that were injured, one is Joel Bishop, 28 years old and he suffered head and body injuries. All persons were transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Some 9 hours after, Joel Bishop succumb to his injuries. With regards to this incident, we have launched both a criminal and a traffic investigation that runs parallel to each other. In an effort to determine exactly not only what transpired, but the cause of death. We will await the results of the post mortem examination from which I am told should be sometime tomorrow and at the end of the investigation we will be able to determine what charges if any will and should be laid."

Monica Bodden reporting
The early morning brawl happened here in front of the MCC Grounds and the Princess hotel on Newtown Barracks.

A group of men which included 22 year old Mark Benguche, 28 year old Austin Rowland, 21 year old Eugene Arana, and 28 year old Joel Bishop - all from the St Martin's area- were attacked by a mob allegedly from Supaul Street.

The fight turned deadly when 28 year old Bishop was beaten up and then run over.

The fracas was recorded on video by an eyewitness.

Mahalia Williams, Aunt of Decease
"I listened and then the young man say ma'am, you know, I stand there. I was on my cycle with this young lady and we were driving through and we came right through this happening with this young man and it was like 10 of them beating this young man to death. He said, that they "toe tap" him. I ask what is that and he said its when they kick you in your face with the point of their shoes. He said that was what they were doing to the young man. He said that he stop where he was, because he had met them beating him (Joel) and he left in a shock. So, he said that they beat the young man, they pick him up and he fell. He said that by this time the young man was already been knocked out. He said ma'am, it was about 10 men, walking across the street, walked into him and stomp him in his chest and they beat him to death. He said that if he had a gun, he would have killed them, because he said that they chance that boy out of his death."

"I told him that that's my nephew and that's the reason I am here now. So he said oh my gosh ma'am, I don't think that young man will make it, because he said when they were "toe tap" him, all what he saw is his head moving from right to left. That means like his neck is broken or something. So I said what."

Bishop succumbed to his injuries 9 hours after the brawl - while Austin Rowland is still hospitalized. The other men were treated for stab wounds and abrasions and released.

Mahalia Williams, Aunt of Decease
"I got to understand that his chest was broken. I think his spine, his vital organs were all damaged. His feet were broken and his head - he got so much beating in his head - his head was banded up, his cheeks were broken. I think some of his teeth came out. But during the fight, he also say that he saw the other young man from up the street "Steeno" they were beating him also, but he was fighting them off with some big rocks - another set of guys and the young man even told me that these guys are from Supal Street. I don't really know them and I am not really interested to know them. Because Jehovah taught me one thing: vengeance is his. So we still have to love our enemy and we still have to pray for them, but I pray to the God of justice that we get some justice in the death of our nephew. Because he never deserved to die like that and I don't think any human, under the almighty hands have the right to killed anyone like that."

Relative of Austin Rowland
"He is eating. So that's a good sign."

Monica Bodden
"What have the family come to understand what happened Saturday morning?"

Relative of Austin Rowland
"Well what we understand is that they were going to Elements when they got attacked by some other guys and it was too much of them, so my cousin couldn't fight them back. That was not a fight. They chanced him."

Monica Bodden
"From what we heard, it was over 10 men attacking these guys."

Relative of Austin Rowland
"Yes. I heard it's over 20 and when he fell to the ground, because what we heard is that one of them stabbed him behind his ear and he fell to the ground. Then they started to beat him in the face and the head with rocks. He could have been dead, because he got hit in his face and head with bricks. We don't know all that happened, because we weren't there."

Monica Bodden
"You'd like to see some sort of justice come out of this situation? Because I heard your neighbor up the street from your family home has been murdered."

Relative of Austin Rowland
"We would want to see justice, but we don't want any revenge."

Since the incident, police have impounded the vehicle they believe ran over Bishop and have detained several personas for questioning.

Desiree Phillips, Assistant Commissioner of Police
"We are not able to establish a motive at this time."

Reporter
"Has information to the police indicated that maybe gang could have been involved?"

Desiree Phillips, Assistant Commissioner of Police
"I am not in a position to say that it is any way gang related."

Reporter
"We understand that at least 10 persons beat Mr. Joel (deceased) in that incident."

Desiree Phillips, Assistant Commissioner of Police
"We have not been able to establish exactly who beat or hit on who. It was a fight. Bottles were thrown, stones were thrown, persons were hit. We have not been able to determine as yet actually who or how many persons hit and it wasn't only Mr. Bishop. Like I said it was at least 5 persons that were injured in that incident."

Reporter
"We heard it's between Supal and PIV gangs?"

Desiree Phillips, Assistant Commissioner of Police
"I don't have any information to confirm that."

Monica Bodden
"We are also hearing that there was poor police response. Would you speak to us about that, since the GSU headquarters is just a block away from where the incident happened?"

Desiree Phillips, Assistant Commissioner of Police
"We had a mobile patrol within the area. As a matter of fact, the police mobile that had responded, that was in the immediate area, transported Mr. Bishop and two of the other persons to the hospital."

Reporter
"My understanding is that this incident started within the confines of BTL Park, the Pier One Bar to be exact. Does the police have a booth in the park?"

Desiree Phillips, Assistant Commissioner of Police
"There is a booth in the park that is manned by police."

Reporter
"Were they involve in the response?"

Desiree Phillips, Assistant Commissioner of Police
"Not initially, because that is a distance away. This incident actually occurred somewhere within the confines of the outer perimeter of the MCC Grounds. I don't know that it started at BTL Park. I know it occurred directly in front of MCC Grounds. That is quite a distance from where the police booth is further up by the Marina Towers."

Police have persons of interest but have not made any arrests.

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