Dennis "Copper" Barth (1951– May 1978) was a gangster in Jamaica,[1][2] who operated out of the Rennock Lodge area in east Kingston.[3] Barth is mentioned in the lyrics of Super Cat's dancehall reggae song "Ghetto Red Hot":[4] "Kingston we deh when Massop get shot / We deh when Copper get shot”, referring to Claude “Claudie" Massop and Barth, who made gang peace treaty in the 1970s.[4]

Dennis "Copper" Barth
Born1951
Died1978
NationalityJamaican
OccupationGangster

Death

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Barth was convicted of killing two policemen and escaped from jails twice. Copper was killed in a shootout with police at the Caymanas Park race track in 1978.[5]

Referenced

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  1. ^ "'Copper' was the 'baddest' gunman, says 'Trinity'". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  2. ^ "'Copper' killed 2 cops in failed robbery at Caymanas Park (Part 2)". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  3. ^ Gray, Obika (27 May 2018). Demeaned But Empowered: The Social Power of the Urban Poor in Jamaica. University of the West Indies Press. ISBN 9789766401535. Retrieved May 27, 2018 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b "The 50 Best Dancehall Songs of All Time - Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  5. ^ Walker, Karyl (2 December 2007). "Copper: A cold-blooded killer who mastered the art of disguise". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 12 June 2023.