FIVE PERSONS suffered violent deaths on the weekend, including one man who was shot dead by the police in Mona Commons, St. Andrew and another who was killed during a payroll dispute in St. James yesterday morning.The man killed by the police in St. Andrew yesterday has been identified only as "Wayne Ranks" of a Mona Commons, St. Andrew address.
Reports from the police are that about 12:30 a.m. two police officers were on patrol at Golden Avenue, Papine when they spotted Ranks who they said was wanted.
The policemen tried to arrest him and a struggle developed. Ranks reportedly grabbed one of the officer's firearm from its holster. The policeman's colleague then came to his assistance and shot Ranks who was later pronounced dead at the University Hospital.
In St. James, Devon Campbell, a 36 year-old security guard was killed at the site of a housing development project of Barrett Hall, St. James.
The St. James police told The Sunday Gleaner that at about mid-day, a dispute developed between Mr. Campbell who was a security guard at the development project and a man known only as "Shane". According to the police, the dispute which was reportedly over matters relating to a payroll, took a bloody turn, as Campbell was shot several times
He died on the spot and Shane subsequently turned himself over to the police. Up to press time, he was still in police custody, but had not yet been charged.
Meanwhile, the police recovered from the crime scene, a Brico 59 Semi-automatic pistol which reportedly belonged to the security guard and a magazine containing eleven rounds of ammunition.
In Manchester, a licensed firearm holder was taken into custody on Friday by the Alligator Pond police after the shooting death in New Forrest district of a man identified only as "Balla" from Tivoli Gardens in Kingston. The police report that at about 1:15 p.m., the licensed firearm holder accosted a man who had stolen his car on May 24 this year.
"Balla" who was in the vehicle allegedly intervened and attacked the licensed firearm holder with a machete. The firearm owner pulled his weapon and opened fire and Balla was hit. He was taken to the Mandeville Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Also killed on Friday was Michael Rowe a 48-year-old motorist of Maxfield Avenue, Kingston 10, who was killed in his car along Mountain View Avenue in Kingston and an unidentified man.
The Constabulary Communi-cation Network's Metro Officer reports that about 8:30 p.m., Mr. Rowe was driving his White Toyota Corolla motor car registered 5849 DG along Mountain View Avenue. On reaching the vicinity of Roxborough Avenue, the car crashed into a signpost. Shortly afterwards explosions were heard and two men were seen running from the vehicle. Motorists who went to assist realised that Mr. Rowe had been shot dead.
Police say the unidentified man of about 37 years old was shot dead by unknown assailant(s) in a car on Peyton Place, Hermitage, Kingston 7. Reports are that about 4:30 p.m., a white Toyota Corolla motor car with four men aboard drove onto Peyton Place. Shortly after explosions were heard and a man was pushed from the vehicle which sped away. The police later discovered that the man had been shot several times. He was rushed to the University Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
