Police constable shot and injured in Clarendon

A police constable was reportedly shot and injured after foiling a murder attempt in Sandy Bay, Clarendon, on Friday night.

The alleged intended target was also shot and injured, the police say.  

Commanding officer for the Clarendon police division, Superintendent Shane McCalla, said the injured policeman was attending a church service in the area, when he responded to the incident sometime after 8 p.m.

"He heard explosions, and cries for help and intervened, and an exchange of gunfire took place between him and suspects. He's currently at the hospital, and about to undergo surgery. This is not one of the things you want to hear as a commanding officer, but we're just hoping and praying that everything works out well, and he pulls through," said McCalla.

He continued: "What we understand is that some men went to a shop, and sought to carry out a killing of another man, with whom we understand there was some disagreement, so it was during that process Constable [name redacted] heard the cry for help and intervened."

McCalla urged the perpetrators to surrender, saying, "I would take this opportunity to tell those persons who carried out this cowardly act to turn themselves in, because one thing we can assure, the full gamut of the JCF [Jamaica Constabulary Force] and the Clarendon police division, we're coming for you." 

He said an immediate operational response was launched following the incident, and investigations are ongoing.

- Olivia Brown

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