Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he’s outraged at the killing of a Jamaica Defence Force, JDF, soldier in the line of duty during an anti-narcotics operation.
The army has identified the soldier as 21-year-old, Private Reneil King, attached to the Fourth Jamaica Regiment.
Prime Minister Holness this afternoon expressed deep condolences to the JDF and the soldier’s family for their loss.
He says the criminals will be brought to justice.
The Prime Minister says Private King’s death has left him in mourning.
Reports are that a Joint police military team of which King was a member was deployed to a location in Milk River, Clarendon on an anti-narcotics operation.
The joint team arrived at the location at approximately 6:30 pm yesterday, and while conducting search operations, came under fire from gunmen.
The fire was returned and during the exchange Private King was shot and injured.
The joint team provided first aid to the Private before he was airlifted, to the May Pen Hospital and subsequently to the University Hospital of the West Indies.
He later succumbed to his injuries.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, says he was hopeful that the private would pull through.
The Prime Minister says he’s outraged by the attack on the security forces.
Approximately two thousand nine hundred pounds of marijuana and a boat was seized at the location.
Investigations are ongoing.
