The police shot and killed a suspect during a confrontation in Mason Hall, St. Mary, early Wednesday, November 22, 2023. The incident unfolded when law enforcement officers received intelligence of a potential sighting of an individual involved in a spate of heinous crimes.

The suspect, who was later identified as Odaine ‘Jungle’ Barrett of Bird Hill, Meggie Top, St. James, was believed to be a member of a notorious gang responsible for a series of brutal murders plaguing the Salt Spring and Flower Hill communities in St. James.

The authorities said they have evidentiary material that linked Barrett to a double murder committed outside the Salt Spring Primary School in St. James over a month ago.

According to the commanding officer in charge of St. James, Senior Superintendent of Police Vernon Ellis, Barrett, who has been in the crosshairs of the police, was reportedly spotted at about 4:00 a.m. in the quiet community of Mason Hall in St. Mary during a “pursuit” operation by a team of law enforcement officers from St. James and St. Mary.

Ellis said the police cornered Barrett, and he opened fire at the police. The police took evasive action and returned fire, hitting him. Hospital authorities pronounced him dead.

The police recovered a pistol at the scene.

Amendments to the new Firearms Act is coming

Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang says the new Firearms Act, which the government implemented to ‘Radam’ criminals one year ago, is currently under review.

According to the Minister, legislators are working on amendments to resolve several gaps in the legislation.

The House passed the new Firearms Act into law in November last year.

Dr. Chang told Parliament that among the changes under consideration is increasing the penalty for possessing a prohibited weapon from a maximum of 25 years to life imprisonment.

Dr. Horace Chang announced while speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.