A woman was shot dead in St Elizabeth on Thursday night in what police are describing as a robbery turned fatal. The deceased has been identified as 39-year-old Nicola Facey, a bartender and nail technician in the community of Red Bank.
Police believe that robbery is the motive behind the attack, given that the attackers stole the woman’s purse before they fled the scene. The incident began around 10:51 p.m. when Facey was walking along the roadway in her neighbourhood. A report says that the attackers came in a vehicle that pulled up alongside her.
Afterwards, multiple men swiftly exited the vehicle and confronted Facey. While it is currently unknown how many perpetrators were at the scene, the interaction between Facey and the gunmen involved them demanding that she hand over her personal belongings to them.
Facey reportedly resisted giving up her purse, leading to a physical altercation. During the tussle, a gun was discharged, and the bullet struck Facey. She apparently collapsed, and the gunmen made off with her purse. When authorities arrived at the scene, she was found facedown on the road, which was captured in a graphic image taken by an onlooker. Police have not yet disclosed the contents that were inside her purse at the time of the robbery. Police have since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Another disturbing incident involving an abduction occurred that same night in the neighbouring community of Rose Hall. Police say a woman was kidnapped on Thursday night after a gunman forced her to enter a car. The armed men pointed a gun at her, and when she entered the vehicle, it drove off. At some point later, the abductors released the woman, and the matter was reported to the police. Authorities are also investigating this case, and they have not indicated that either incident was connected in any way.
