THREE PERSONS were shot dead in Montego Bay in two separate incidents between late Saturday afternoon and early Sunday morning as gun violence continued to wreak havoc in the tourist capital and its environs.
Montego Bay has witnessed record homicides every year since 2001.
Up to yesterday afternoon, a total of 340 murders had been recorded across the island for the year, averaging about four persons killed each day.
A spokesperson for the Constabulary Communication Network indicated that the murder toll was 162 fewer than recorded up to April 30 last year.
The dead persons, two men and a woman, have been identified as 39-year-old Barrington Kelly and 36-year-old Teresa Pitter, both of Crawford Street in Mt. Salem; and 33-year-old Randy Johnson, of the Bogue Village Estate on the outskirts of the western side of the city.
LOUD EXPLOSIONS
In the first incident, which occurred about 7:00 p.m., Mr. Johnson reportedly drove onto the usually quiet Jarrett Street, where he dropped off a female companion at her home. He was reportedly in the process of driving away from the area when several loud explosions were heard.
On hearing the explosions, frightened residents of the area alerted the police. When a team of lawmen arrived on the scene, Mr. Johnson was found slumped over in the driver's seat of his car. A preliminary examination of his upper body revealed multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
In the second incident, which occurred shortly after 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, a group of persons were playing a game of ludo on Crawford Street when a grey Toyota Corolla motor car with three men aboard reportedly pulled up beside them. One of the men casually stepped out of the vehicle, pulled a firearm from his waistband and opened fire on the group.
Kelly and Pitter were both hit several times, and died before being taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital.
