Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
THREE ARMED robbers who shot and injured a supermarket operator while committing a daring early morning robbery in Llandilo, Westmoreland, yesterday were killed when they crossed paths with irate residents and alert policemen.
While the police were not able to ascertain the identity of the dead men, some of the onlookers who converged on Doyley's Funeral Home to view the bodies identified one as a resident of Burnt Savannah and the other two as residents of Orange Hill, near Negril.
CONFRONTED PROPRIETOR
"Me know de three a dem, but me neva know dem a gunman," said a woman, who had gone into the funeral home to look at the bodies. "One come from Kingston and live a Burnt Savannah and the other come from Orange Hill."
According to eyewitness reports, at about 9:25 a.m., the three men went into the supermarket where they confronted proprietor, Sheila West, who had a garbage bag in her hand. Thinking that the bag contained money, one of the robbers grabbed the bag and fired a single shot, hitting her in the upper body.
The men reportedly ran out of the building, got into a white Toyota Corolla motor car which was parked close by and sped away. The car reportedly crashed into a Jamaica Public Service Company van a few chains away and the men, guns in hand, alighted from the vehicle and continued their bid to escape on foot.
A licensed firearm holder fired a number of shots in the air, which attracted the attention of residents of the area and a passing police patrol. One of the men was reportedly cornered and beaten to death by the residents while the other two were killed when they traded gunfire with the police.
"All now mi belly bottom a tremble," said a woman, who said she watched the second half of the drama unfolding. "Trust me ... the youth who chased dem deserve to get medals."
After the men were killed, the police recovered a 9mm pistol from one of them. The bodies were taken to Doyley's Funeral Home while the damaged car was towed to the Savanna-la-Mar Police Station.
Mrs. West, who is also a Gleaner agent, was rushed to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital where she was admitted in a stable condition. Family sources said her injuries are not life-threatening.
