Three killed at cookout

The community of Temple Hall in rural St Andrew was yesterday rocked by a brazen attack, when a lone gunman shot and killed three persons at a cookout.

Head of the St Andrew North Division, Superintendent Derrick Champagnie, told THE STAR that about 4 p.m., persons were at the 'old bubble gum factory', when a lone gunman approached the patrons on foot.

"Some were playing dominos, some were observing. He walked up and shot six persons. Three are confirmed dead," he said.

An alleged eyewitness said he had to take cover when the incident unfolded.

"Mi inna the kitchen and mi left and go a the dominoes table and carry piece a pork go gi a man. When mi walk go back up the kitchen ... mi hear 'bang bang bang'. Me see people start run up and dung the complex ... mi see a man a roll a grung and a scream and a 'sight' (evade) shot til the shot done," he said. "When me walk go a the gate, me see one man dead at the next side. One get shot inna hand, one in a foot. Everything a gwaan nice and comfortable till them come and spoil it."

Champagnie said that it is believed this incident is a reprisal to a shooting which took place earlier this year in the same vicinity.

"We are following some leads so far and we are hoping that it (the investigation) will lead us to an early breakthrough. Since the start of this year, we have seen an uptake in murders based on gangs and criminal activities. We have made some breakthroughs where persons were arrested and charged for various offences," he said.

Champagnie added that in some cases, the police have to release men who have been arrested, because some witnesses are fearful.

But he said the police are trying to work with these persons and, hopefully, will alleviate their fears in order to assist the investigations.