Cops kill two, seize high-powered weapons in St James

Two men were shot and killed and two high-powered rifles seized during an operation in Retirement, St James, on Thursday.

Reports by the Freeport police are that shortly after 9:30 p.m., a joint police-military team was carrying out an operation in a section of Retirement in the Granville policing area. During the operation, the lawmen saw a group of men at a location in the area and began approaching them. Upon seeing the lawmen approaching, the men opened fire on the team, which challenged them in a shoot-out.

During the gun battle, two of the men – who were still unidentified up to yesterday evening – were shot dead. A search of the area led to the seizure of two assault rifles and several rounds of ammunition.

One senior officer told The Gleaner that the operation was aimed at clamping down on gunmen in the parish and ridding the streets of illegal firearms.

“The police have reaped success, and this is just one of many operations aimed at getting the criminals and the illegal guns.

“Retirement is one of the areas in the Granville policing area which has being targeted by gunmen over the recent years. We went to the area, and the team were successful in seizing two more high-powered rifles after the two unidentified men were fatally shot,” the officer said.

A team attached to the Independent Commission of Investigations visited the scene and is now carrying out investigations.