Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

Forensic experts have begun examining at least 20 guns that were issued to police who took part in Saturday's operation, in May Pen, Clarendon, where four men were controversially killed in an alleged shoot-out.

The incident prompted over 200 residents to stage a mass protest in the parish capital, Monday, virtually shutting down the town and forcing businesses to close early. The residents claimed the men were killed in cold blood and that there was no shoot-out.

But speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, head of the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI), Acting Assistant Commissioner Granville Gause, said one of the obstacles faced by police investigators was that no eyewitnesses have come forward so far.

Teen being questioned

Police reports are that three illegal firearms were seized by the lawmen in the aftermath of the alleged shoot-out. A teenager is being questioned in relation to the shooting.

"Our investigation is on track; we are now in the process of dotting all the Ts," said Gause, who also requested that the post-mortems be completed before the end of the week.

He said ballistics and forensic experts yesterday visited the scene of the shooting.

Said ACP Gause, "Our mandate is to investigate, and somebody will have to justify the circumstances under which these persons met their death."