Two dead in ops to collar mass shooting perps

Investigators have made significant progress in the probe into Sunday night’s deadly mass shooting in the Commodore district of St Catherine, which claimed five lives, including four-year-old Shannon Gordon, and left four others injured.

Among the injured is an 11-year-old girl who remains in serious condition, and the remaining three victims are reported to be in stable condition.

According to police reports, the breakthrough came during two related operations on Thursday morning. Around 5 a.m., officers, acting on intelligence, swooped down on a premises in Knollis, Bog Walk, where they came under heavy gunfire from a man armed with an M16 assault rifle.

The cops reportedly took evasive action, and during the ensuing exchange, the suspect was shot and injured. He was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police recovered the rifle and several magazines from the premises.

Later, at approximately 8:30 a.m., lawmen following up on the investigation encountered a car with several men aboard believed to be connected to the Commodore killings. Upon reaching Grange Lane, in the vicinity of Tent City, Portmore, the men allegedly opened fire on the police.

The officers returned fire, hitting one of the men. He later died while being treated at hospital, while the others escaped into nearby bushes. A 9mm pistol was reportedly seized from the vehicle. It remains unclear whether any of the other suspects were injured while escaping.

Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Area Five Christopher Phillips confirmed that both operations are directly linked to the Commodore massacre.

“I just want to say that the investigation into what took place at Commodore is ongoing and there are still information that I cannot divulge. Just to say that these two incidents are connected to that investigation,” Phillips said.

He added that further operations are expected as police move to apprehend other suspects involved in Sunday night’s brutal attack.

“There will be other operations to arrest some more of the persons who were involved in Sunday night’s incident,” he added.

POLICE IMPERSONATION

Eyewitnesses to Sunday night’s attack reported that four gunmen, dressed in police-style denim uniforms and claiming to be law-enforcement officers, were involved in the deadly shooting that left nine people shot – five of them fatally.

The revelation has sparked widespread public concern over the ease with which criminals can impersonate members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). It has also reignited calls for a standardised, gazetted police uniform to reduce confusion and improve public safety.

At Thursday’s St Catherine Municipal Corporation meeting, Councillor Fenley Douglas of the Waterford Division expressed condolences to the affected families and urged the Ministry of National Security to act immediately.

“Because they were not able to tell the difference between real and fake uniform, they became lambs to the slaughter,” Douglas said.

He noted that he has long advocated for a standardised, legally recognised uniform for Jamaica’s police officers.

“I have been making [the case] for a standard, gazetted uniform for the island’s police officers,” Douglas stated, expressing frustration that the ministry had yet to take action.

Douglas further criticised the Ministry of National Security for allowing various uniformed services to wear similar service apparel.

“The Ministry of National Security has turned a blind eye to my pleas, Chairman. It looks as if they are satisfied with prison warders, municipal officers, and some firemen all clad in the same service apparel,” Douglas said, questioning whether the decision to adopt the current fatigue-style uniform was made to save money rather than lives.

The Commodore massacre, which has rocked the Linstead community and prompted national outrage, remains under intense investigation as law enforcement continues its efforts to track down the remaining suspects and bring closure to the grieving families.

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