Police have launched a manhunt for the gunmen who shot and killed two off duty policemen on Thursday night at a business establishment in St Andrew, a parish in the southeast of the island.
They have identified the dead police officers as Charles Stewart of the Spanish Town Police, and Jemarey Gordon from Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (CTOC). According to the police, the two off duty cops had gone to the establishment to meet someone to conduct business and that a confrontation ensued, with two men opening fire on the cops, hitting the lawmen, before making their escape.
Both men were pronounced dead at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).
National Security Minister, Dr Horace Chang, has condemned the killings.
Police say a 17-year-old student is among three men who are being sought in connection with the killings. They said the other two, are both 20 years old.
‘This egregious attack on our officers is an attack on the very fabric of law and order in our nation. The JCF High Command strongly condemns this senseless act of violence against those who have sworn to protect and serve,’ said the Commissioner of Police, Dr Kevin Blake.
‘Let it be clear, we will spare no effort, no resource, and no measure to bring those responsible for this cowardly act to swift justice.’
Meanwhile, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is reporting that for the period, January 1 to November 08, the country has recorded 571 murders as compared with 979 last year, a 42.9 per cent decline.
The JCF said the areas with the highest killings were St. Andrew North with 69, followed by St. Ann with 51, St. Catherine North, 49, St. Catherine South 46, and St. James with 45.