Four killed on New Year's Day

FOUR JAMAICANS died violently less than 10 hours into the new year.

Twenty-two-year-old Ricardo Goulbourne of Spring Village, Old Harbour, St Catherine, became the island's first murder victim for 2010.

Goulbourne was fatally shot at his home about 12:05 yesterday morning while the country was still ringing in the new year.

The police reported that Goulbourne was at home with a female companion when he was called outside by a man who opened fire hitting him before escaping.

Goulbourne was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where he died while being treated. The female escaped without injury.

In another incident, a 23-year-old man was killed on Lissant Road in Kingston.

Dead is Joel Johnson of Pleasant Hill, St Mary.

The Constabulary Commu-nication Network reports that at about 2 a.m. residents heard explosions and called the police.

Investigators who went to the area saw Johnson's body on the roadway with several gunshot wounds. The CIB is investigating.

Killed by gunmen

Patrick McDonald, otherwise called 'Kingman,' was killed yesterday by gunmen at the National Arena, Independence Park, St Andrew, at 5:15 a.m.

McDonald, who lived at Brooklyn Avenue, Cromarty, St Catherine, was among patrons leaving the Black and White Affair party at the arena when explosions were heard.

His body was later seen with multiple gunshot wounds.

In Manchester, Michael Thomas of Comfort district was shot and killed in the community at about 9:15 a.m.

The police report that Thomas was involved in a dispute with a group of men who shot him.

More than 1,600 persons were killed across the country last year, making it one of the bloodiest on record.