KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Police said one person was shot and killed as law enforcement authorities began an operation on Wednesday targeting suspects in Tuesday’s killing of a couple and their son in St Catherine, southeast of here.
Police have named seven persons of interest as the probe continues into the murders of Sharon Francis-Wellington, her husband Omar Wellington, and her son Orlando Wellington, whose bodies were found inside their house with hands bound. Police said they were also shot and their throats slashed.
Police said that during the early hours of Wednesday, they spotted one of the suspects inside a house. He reportedly challenged the police and was shot and killed in the exchange.
The police said that they had retrieved two firearms.
The police say the seven suspects should report to the Spanish Town Criminal Investigation Branch by 5.00 p.m. (local time) on Wednesday.
They have named the suspects as Demar Williams – otherwise called ‘KyeKye,’ and Othniel Loban – also called ‘Tickman’ three men are only known by their aliases ‘Buffy,’ ‘Richie,’ and Gaza’ or ‘Gaza man’ and two men, said to be overseas, called Blacks and Negus.
On Tuesday, the councilor for the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP), Keisha Lewis, said residents were in fear because of a series of violent criminal acts in recent times.
“Several residents say they are afraid. I call on the police to be out here patrolling or even establishing a static post to ensure safety and that investigations can be carried out.
“A pregnant wife, husband, and child were taken out. It has left the community in a very shocked state, and a sombre mood, and all of us are trying to come to terms with what happened. All of us are in a state of limbo because we are pretty much concerned that a community that had experienced peace so long has been seeing crime incidents popping up,” Lewis said.
For the period January 1 to August 26 this year, Jamaica has recorded 899 murders as compared with 1,008 for the corresponding period last year.
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