WESTERN BUREAU:

A man who was attacked and shot multiple times in Montego Bay on the weekend remained hospitalised.

Several people believed the victim was dead, as rumours swirled around the Second City up to last night that he had died. But up to press time yesterday, senior investigators at the Montego Bay CIB confirmed he was still alive.

Against that background, police have not released his identity for security purposes, but they have confirmed that the 27-year-old man, of a Mount Salem address, is a deportee.

"Yes, we can confirm that the victim was deported from the United Kingdom about a year and a half ago after serving time in prison on drug-related charges," a senior officer revealed.

Police say that shortly after midday last Saturday, the man went to a barber salon on St James Street in downtown Montego Bay. While in the barber's chair, a gunman walked up and shot him in the neck, chest, abdomen and hand.

Police say they have not yet established a motive for the incident.