Escarpeta’s Murder was an Act of Revenge

James Escarpeta

As we’ve mentioned, the murder of James Escarpeta on Wednesday night, was retaliation for the shooting death of Steven Moss.  But Escarpeta, a former gang member who was later mentally challenged, was not involved in that mid-afternoon bloodshed.  Commissioner of Police Chester Williams spoke briefly on that incident.

Reporter

“Are you able to say if the attack on, the murder of Mr. Escarpeta, was it just a random retaliation as some would have said?  We know that many years ago, ten or fifteen years ago, he may have been seen as an active member of George Street, but we know he’s not mentally sound at this point that you would say, “Well, he da wahn active gang player.”  Was the attack on him just random, to say that we wahn get somebody from George Street, anybody?”

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Based on our intelligence, it was an act of retaliation for the shooting death of Steve Moss.”

Reporter

“But is it the belief that he was one of the persons who was in the Range Rover that went after Moss?”

Chester Williams

“No, that is not the belief.”