Nagra Plunkett, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:

An alleged gunman was fatally shot and four other persons, including a police constable, injured during a confrontation at a dance in Belmont, St. James, yesterday morning.

The dead man has been identified as Raceen Arthurton, otherwise called 'Hobo', an unemployed resident of Hopewell, Hanover.

"My information is that the bullet that wounded the cop was lodged in his bulletproof vest," said Corporal Camille Tracey, Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) officer for St. James.

She said the incident occurred about 3:45 a.m. when the lawmen responded to reports of gunshots being fired at the event.

Ironically, the dance was being held in memory of Eugene 'Fat Eye' Parkinson, who was shot and killed by gunmen in Ironshore, St. James, in 2002.

Fierce firefight

The police say that, on their arrival to the venue, a group of men, which included Arthurton, opened fire on them. A gun battle then ensued.

The policeman, who is attached to the St. James Division, was later seen wounded, and Arthurton was found with multiple gunshot wounds. He died on the spot while the cop was taken to hospital where he was treated and released.

The Gleaner learnt that three other persons who were at the event subsequently turned up at hospital with gunshot wounds.

nagra.plunkett@gleanerjm.com