Eight shot, five fatally, in separate incidents Tuesday

 

Eight persons were shot, five fatally, during incidents in several police divisions on Tuesday.

 

Two of the victims were killed on Bryden Street in East Kingston.

 

They have been identified as 35 year old Orain Baker and 28 year old Lorenzo Campbell.

 

About 10:30 a.m., residents heard gunfire and called the police.

 

Mr. Baker's body, with the hands bound, was discovered on a property.

 

The police found Mr. Campbell's body, with the hands and feet bound, at an adjoining property.

 

Both bodies had bullet wounds.

 

Gunmen also carried out attacks in the St. Andrew South; Kingston Central, Kingston West, Clarendon and Westmoreland police divisions.

 

Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, said the administration has been focusing on the crime wave, despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. 

 

"What I can say is that crime nationally and in total crimes reported as at year-to-date is about 17 per cent down. So the programme is indeed working. Many efforts of the ministry are actually bearing fruit. The fact is the deep issues that cause crime in Jamaica have not largely been corrected yet. Though we're making the investments and making the policy and legislative changes to make the crime fight more effective, there is a lot of work to be done and we still have a ways to go before we can say we really break the backs of the crime monster. But the truth is, we're on the right path," he declared. 

 

More than 520 people have been murdered in Jamaica since the start of the year.