Deadly clashes - Four killed as gunmen and police battle in Kingston

Police and armed men traded bullets in three separate incidents yesterday in the Corporate Area.

In Riverton City, St Andrew, three men were killed during a shootout as the police attempted to intercept two vehicles in the 'gully bank' area of the community. Superintendent Kirk Ricketts, commanding officer for the St Andrew South Division, heaped praises on his men for their work.

He also confirmed that four persons, two of whom are currently hospitalised, were arrested and that two illegal firearms with several rounds were recovered from the scene when the shooting subsided.

"I am heartened by the fact that my officers prevailed and came out without being injured," Ricketts told THE STAR. The division has recorded 95 murders. Ricketts said that his men are determined to bring the situation under control.

A division with over 70 gangs

"We always have to ensure that we send a message because we are having issues across the division. Over 31 areas right now with gang conflicts. It's a division with over 70 gangs with just about 44 of them very active as we speak," he said. "Riverton City is a place where we have been getting some murders over the last month or two and such we would have had a kind of strategic presence in the space in an effort to interdict the activities of these criminal gangsters. Today is one such day that we were able to interdict criminal suspects."

Meanwhile, the police had to take evasive action as heavily armed men opened fire at them at the Denham Town Police Station. The police said that they recovered a .45 semi-automatic pistol with 11 rounds in the May Pen Cemetery after the gunmen escaped. The incident happened minutes after another fatal gun battle between the police and a gunman. The deceased has been identified only as 'CJ', who was wanted for the murder of 16-year-old Rashida Hall, who was killed last month in Trench Town.

Head of the Kingston West Police Division, Superintendent Michael Phipps, told THE STAR that the police will be increasing their operational activities across the division, including searches.