Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Three men who engaged members of a police party in a shoot-out yesterday, following a robbery in Southfield, St. Elizabeth, were shot dead. The police also recovered a revolver and a pistol in the incident.

The shoot-out occurred about 3:00 pm after the May Pen police received information that three armed men had robbed a businessplace in St. Elizabeth and, in a bid to escape, held up and robbed a motorist of his car that was heading in their direction.

High level of criminality

The May Pen police said they spotted the car along Jacob Hut in the parish and signalled the vehicle to stop, but the men refused and started to fire at them. The police fired back and, during the gun battle, the men were shot and killed.

Several persons have expressed concern about the high level of criminality facing the May Pen community.

In the last month alone, six persons have been reported killed, three by gunmen and three by police during robberies.