Tragic Shooting at Point Hill Wake: Police Confirm one dead and six injured.

Gunmen invaded a wake in Point Hill, St Catherine, early Wednesday morning, Aug 21, 2024, and shot seven innocent people, one fatally.

The police confirmed the tragic incident, which they say unfolded at about 2:45 a.m., in the quiet rural community.

According to the report, people had gathered in the community at a wake held in honor of the late grandmother of entertainer Christopher Martin. Two gunmen reportedly invaded the space and unleashed a barrage of bullets on the crowd.

The men then escaped on foot in the community.

When the shooting ceased, concerned citizens found seven people suffering from gunshot wounds.

They swiftly transported the wounded to the hospital, where the authorities, unfortunately, pronounced one of the victims dead on arrival and admitted the others.

The tragic gun attack came precisely 13 days after the Cherry Tree Lane mass shooting in Clarendon, which claimed eight lives.

That brutal attack prompted Prime Minister Andrew Holness to declare an all-out war on criminal elements across the island.

So far, Law enforcement officers have arrested persons and indicted in connection with the Cherry Lane Tree Massacre.

Internal Gang Conflict Blamed for Point Hill Shooting: Security Minister

ST. Catherine, Jamaica: Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, says Wednesday morning’s shooting in Point Hill, St. Catherine, was the result of internal gang conflict.

He disclosed that based on early information, the police theorized that the perpetrators quarreled over scamming money. He said the police have since identified and apprehended several suspects.

Minister Chang noted that the police were unaware of the wake, which he highlighted as an issue in ensuring public safety.

The minister pointed out that having Chris Martin at a wake is a big event. So, somebody should have informed the police. He said the police learned of the wake after the shooting.

Dr. Chang appealed to the broader society, reminding them that cooperation with the police means keeping them informed of breaches of the law and when there are gatherings and activities.

Homicide Investigation: Man Gunned Down in Red Hills, St Andrew

Police Investigate Murder of Man in Red Hills

Authorities in St Andrew North are now investigating the homicide of a man on Blue Mountain Road in Red Hills on Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024.

The police identified the victim as Marlon Newsome, a 26-year-old welder residing at a Blue Mountain Road address.

According to reports, local residents contacted law enforcement after hearing gunshots at approximately 7:00 a.m.

Upon reaching the scene, police found Newsome lying in a pool of blood by the roadside.

The Constant Spring Criminal Investigation Branch is leading the inquiry into Newsome’s tragic demise.

Two Men Charged by St. Andrew Police for Suspected Illegal Gun Possession.

The police charged two men after the seizure of a firearm on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew on August 12.

24-year-old Ackeem Gooden, a taxi operator from Greater Portmore, St Catherine, and 24-year-old Markeion Slater, a labourer from Cassava Piece, Kingston 8, have been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon.

According to the Constant Spring police, around 12:12 a.m., officers on patrol signaled the driver of a Toyota Voxy motor car to stop. The driver complied, and the police team searched the vehicle and allegedly discovered a Smith and Wesson firearm.

The police arrested Gooden and Slater. The police formally charged them on August 17, 2024.