The New Green area of Manchester has seen a flare-up in violence in recent months. 

A lone thug invaded a bar and shot and injured a man and a woman in the New Green Community in Manchester Saturday night, May 13, 2023. 

According to the police report, at about 8:45 pm Saturday, May 13, 2023, the victims were among patrons at the New Green Town Square business establishment when they were pounced upon by a lone thug armed with a handgun, who opened fire on them before escaping.

The woman sustained gunshot wounds to the head.

The area has seen a flare-up in violence in recent months. 

On March 3, 2023, cookshop operator Catherine Matthews, 39, was shot dead, and her husband was injured as the two walked home from their shop at night. 

Hopewell in Hanover records four murders in seven days

On Saturday afternoon, May 13, 2023, a man was stabbed to death in Hopewell, Hanover, while Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, was touring the community. The latest victim is the fourth murder recorded in the community in seven days. 

The police identified the latest victim by his alias, ‘Clarksman,’ who lived in the community until his death.

According to the Hopewell police report, at about 4:00 pm, Saturday, May 13, 2023, the man was standing outside a bar and restaurant establishment at the beachfront along Hopewell Main Street when he was attacked by an unidentified male armed with three knives.

The attacker stabbed the man multiple times before escaping on foot. The victim died on the spot.

Residents summoned the police to the scene. Upon arrival, they removed the body to a morgue.

Clarksman is the fourth person murdered in the Hopewell community over the past seven days.

Chang toured several violence-hit communities in western Jamaica on Saturday. 

Two market vendors were killed hours apart in Highgate and Linstead.

Two vendors were shot and killed in separate incidents at two markets located in Highgate, St Mary, and Linstead, St Catherine, on Saturday, May 13, 2023

The police identified the deceased as Shelton Watson, o/c ‘Nan’, 39, of Dean Pen, St Mary, and a woman only identified as ‘Marcia.’

Watson succumbed to his injuries at a hospital after he and another man were shot during shopping hours at the Highgate Market.

The police said at about 3:00 pm on Saturday, May 13, 2023, Watson was among persons gambling at the back of the market when an armed man approached and opened gunfire at him, sending shoppers and vendors scampering for cover to dodge bullets.

When the shooting subsided, Watson and another man were seen suffering from gunshot wounds.

The police transported the men to the hospital, where Watson died while undergoing treatment. The other man, nursing a gunshot wound in the leg, was treated and sent home. 

The Highgate police are searching for the gunman.

A couple of hours later, unknown thugs shot and killed a female vendor known as ‘Marcia’ at her stall at the Linstead Market.

Details of the shooting were unavailable, but the woman’s body was reportedly found lying face down on the ground.

The Linstead police are investigating.