‘Giant’ killed in police shootout after car chase in Old Harbour

A man believed to be a wanted gunman was killed following a shootout with police during a targeted operation in Old Harbour, St Catherine, on Tuesday night.

He is believed to be 27-year-old Shane Clarke, otherwise called ‘Giant’, of Berrydale, Porus, Manchester.

According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the incident unfolded about 6:45 p.m. along Darlington Drive, after members of the JCF’s Specialized Operations received information about a vehicle allegedly involved in the movement of illegal firearms.

The vehicle was located and police signalled the driver to stop.

However, the occupant allegedly opened gunfire in the direction of the police before speeding away.

The police pursued the vehicle, which stopped a short distance away. Officers again came under gunfire as they approached, prompting them to return fire, according to the JCF.

The vehicle then sped away before crashing into an embankment and overturning.

Clarke was taken by the police to May Pen Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Two firearms were reportedly recovered from the scene, including a .380 pistol containing one round of ammunition and an AK-47-type rifle with an empty magazine.

No police officer was injured, although a police service vehicle sustained gunshot damage.

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has been notified and is probing the fatal police shooting.

Linked to several major crimes

According to the police, Clarke had been linked to several serious crimes across multiple parishes.

He was reportedly a person of interest in investigations involving armed robberies targeting cash-in-transit operations and financial institutions, as well as several murders and shootings.

Police said Clarke had been linked to the May 2026 murder of Dave McGregor in Clarendon, a July 2024 shooting and attempted robbery involving police personnel and a Beryllium security officer in Negril, Westmoreland, and the April 2023 robbery of Jamaica National Bank in Mandeville, during which approximately $8.5 million was stolen.

He was also reportedly linked to the October 2023 double murder of Walton Pusey and Sylvester Leslie in St Andrew, the October 2023 shooting of Niko Malcolm in Waltham Park, Kingston, and the December 2022 double murder of Jin Xian Ye, otherwise called ‘Leo’, and Alphanso Cohen during an attempted robbery in Porus, Manchester.

The police stressed that investigations into those matters remain ongoing.

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