WESTERN BUREAU:

The number of persons killed in St. James since the start of the year has risen to 154, with the murder of two more persons in separate incidents on Thursday night.

The victims have been identified as 39-year-old Arthur 'Wicked Man' Drummond of Circle Way in Flankers, and Eurol 'Falmouth' Rowe of a Bottom Pen address in Montego Bay.

Investigators have not disclosed the motive for the killings.

In the first incident, Drummond was gunned down along Central Avenue in Flankers about 10:45 p.m.

Police found him with gunshot wounds after residents reported hearing explosions in the area.

Man being beaten

At approximately 11:30 p.m., residents reported that a man was being beaten along Salt Spring Road in Montego Bay.

During police inquiries, Rowe was found lying along the roadway in a pool of blood with what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

The parish recorded a triple murder on Monday night during an attack by gunmen at Meggie Top, Salt Spring. The dead were named as 54-year-old shopkeeper Victor 'Mr. Chin' Young, Hartley Campbell, a 34-year-old chef, and Wesley Scott, 57, all of Salt Spring addresses.

As the bloodletting continues in the western parish, detectives probing the triple murder say they have no motive for the murders. Information received by The Gleaner suggests that they were labelled "police informers" by their killers.

Three young men from the area are being sought for questioning in connection with the homicides.