A man suspected of larceny was shot and killed by Portmore police in Phoenix Park Village, Phase 3. The deceased was among two alleged robbers who broke into a home inside the gated community in St Catherine on Wednesday afternoon. The second robber managed to escape the scene during an alleged confrontation with police. Reports say that the police intercepted the suspects along Hellshire Drive when they were fleeing the community after committing the robbery.
The suspects’ vehicle, a Toyota Allion, later crashed. Explosions were heard in the community as a shootout reportedly unfolded between the officers and the robbers’ men. When shots subsided around 1:15, one of the suspects was found with gunshot wounds.
The alleged burglar was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital, while his accomplice fled the scene and remains at large. Police are currently trying to locate and apprehend him.
Following the incident, the scene was probed by senior investigators, including Dr Jason McKay. A firearm was reportedly recovered at the scene. The vehicle that the suspects were driving was left riddled with bullets, while spent casings were scattered on the ground.
Police cordoned off the area, while residents watched nearby. The mid-afternoon tension quickly spilt into conversations among homeowners, many of whom have been voicing their concerns for months. Phoenix Park Village, though marketed as a secure gated scheme, has been experiencing a troubling increase in break-ins. At least three homes in Phase 3 experienced burglaries just last week, according to several residents.
Residents expressed frustration over paying for security that they do not believe they are receiving. Another resident claimed that poorly monitored rentals were compromising safety.
For some homeowners, the situation has eroded the very sense of security they expected when moving into a gated community. “This is not what we signed up for,” one woman said, adding that she felt discomfort regarding the questionable behaviours of the residents in the community.
Break-ins across the St. Catherine South Division have been on the rise, with a 67% increase, while robberies have increased by 44% as of December 6. Portmore police have carried out multiple targeted operations in an effort to get the issue under control.
