Deputy Prime Minister and National Security Minister, Dr. Horace Chang, has advised the police to expend every effort to find and bring to justice the perpetrators of a deadly drive-by shooting in Montego Bay, St. James on Friday.
The shooting left one man dead and eight other people injured on Hart Street.
Reports are that at about 5:45 pm, men travelling in a Toyota Axio motor car drove up on several people gathered along Hart Street.
The men, armed with high-powered rifles, alighted from the vehicle and opened gunfire on the group.
When the shooting subsided, nine individuals were injured. They were taken to hospital where one man died.
Two of the other eight injured persons are said to be in critical condition.
Reports indicate that the shooting is believed to have been an act of reprisal for the killing of a gangster’s relative last year.
In a statement on Saturday, Dr. Chang says the Jamaica Constabulary Force, JCF, will expend every effort to find and bring to justice the gunmen who perpetrated this act of terror.
He says the police will not allow criminals to undermine the successful reduction of murders and other major crimes that have taken place in the parish this year.
Dr. Chang says the security forces will not allow violent criminals to reoccupy the space and seek to drive fear into residents.
Minister Chang is also encouraging residents in the area to tell the Police what they know about the incident.
He notes that the JCF will treat any information on the incident confidential as it moves to act on intelligence received in order to protect citizens and communities from this type of criminality.
