Two men reportedly connected to the deadly Commodore mass shooting were fatally shot by police on Thursday during two separate operations in St Catherine. The incidents, which unfolded hours apart, are part of an ongoing investigation into Sunday’s brutal quintuple murder that claimed the lives of five people, including a four-year-old girl.
The first operation took place just after 5:00 a.m. in Jewels Estate, Nollis, Bog Walk. Acting on intelligence, a joint police-military team entered the area and reportedly came under threat from an armed man. According to the police, the assailant pointed his gun toward them, prompting lawmen to open fire. The man was shot and succumbed to his injuries.
Officers reportedly seized an M16 rifle, a magazine, and ammunition from the scene. Later that morning, a second operation was carried out in the area of Grange Lane, Portmore, where another team of police officers intercepted a vehicle. Police say the car was occupied by multiple men.
Police say that the men began shooting at officers, prompting them to return fire. When the shootout ended, one of the men was confirmed to have gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead after being transported to the Spanish Town Hospital. It is alleged that the fatally wounded man was in possession of a pistol, which has since been recovered by the police.
The two fatal encounters have been reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) for examination, as detectives from the St Catherine North Police Division carry on with their inquiries into the events.
The Thursday operations come just days after the mass shooting in the Commodore district, where five people, including a young child, were killed in what authorities described as a targeted attack. Four others, among them an 11-year-old girl, were injured during the ordeal.
As the investigation deepens, the Jamaica Constabulary Force has renewed its appeal for public assistance. Officers are urging anyone with information related to the killings or the subsequent confrontations to come forward, emphasising that cooperation from citizens could be key in bringing those responsible to justice.
