SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Police in Jamaica killed a top gang leader whose death unleashed a violent backlash near the capital of Kingston on Thursday, prompting authorities to raise the threat level to police officers to extreme.
The shooting occurred after the government ordered a crackdown on gangs following recent mass shootings on the island nation where gang violence has erupted in recent months.
Gunfire echoed throughout Spanish Town, just 13 miles (21 kilometers) from Kingston, and at least one business was torched, just hours after police killed Othneil ''Thickman'' Lobban late on Wednesday. Police described him as a top leader of the One Order gang.
A curfew was imposed with immediate effect, restricting people from leaving their homes until late Friday.
''We urge citizens to remain calm and to cooperate with the security forces as they work to maintain peace and stability in the area,'' Jamaica's Constabulary Force said in a statement.
Police and soldiers patrolled the streets of Spanish Town, which remained largely empty as schools, businesses and government agencies closed as a precaution ahead of the curfew. Bus and taxi drivers were urged to avoid the area after Wednesday's shooting.
Police said they as officers were pursuing Lobban, residents in one community organized a protest, blocked roads and damaged several official vehicles.
Jamaica has one of the world's highest homicide rates, and many worry Lobban's killing will lead to more violence. The country also has one of the highest rates of killings by police officers in the Americas, according to Amnesty International, which has criticized the fatal shootings as ''extrajudicial executions.''
