WESTERN BUREAU:

The bloodletting in St. James continued on Tuesday night, claiming the lives of three men, who were killed by gunmen in separate incidents across the parish.

The murder victims have been identified as 24-year-old Oniel Cooper of Canterbury; Bertram Calvert, 31, of a Meggie Top address in Salt Spring; and Michael Wood, a 34-year resident of Pele Drive in Flankers.

To date, 130 homicides have been recorded in the parish of St. James, three fewer than the number for the corresponding period last year.

Shot six times

Reports are that Wood was standing along Central Avenue in Flankers about 9:30 p.m. when a gunman approached him. He was shot six times. Wood died on the spot.

Earlier, about 8:15 p.m., explosions were heard in the Canterbury community and the police were called in. Cooper was subsequently found lying on a dirt track in the vicinity of a church with multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators believe that his killing is linked to an ongoing feud between rival gangs in Canterbury. A woman was shot and injured during an exchange of gunfire between thugs in the area on Saturday.

In the third homicide, Calvert was chased and shot at the People's Arcade in downtown Montego Bay. It is said that Calvert was washing his car about 8:30 p.m. when an armed man walked up to him.

Calvert ran but was pursued by his killer, who opened fire on him. He later died at hospital.