Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

Detectives record information about a shooting in Markland, North East St. Andrew, in which an elderly woman was slain and a policeman injured during a running gun battle with gunmen yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

THE COLOUR associated with nomination day turned pale in at least two Corporate Area communities yesterday. A single bullet hole in Cecilia McCarthy's bedroom window bears testament to another senseless killing in the island and one that has left residents of Markland in Grants Pen, St. Andrew, scared and upset.

Yesterday, three persons were shot, one fatally. The two persons injured are policemen. Their injuries are not considered life threatening.

Mrs. McCarthy, 67, was killed at the scene of yesterday's first incident. The other shooting incident took place in Central Kingston.

Sergeant Jubert Llewelyn of the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) said the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate, Delroy Chuck, and a group of party supporters were marching through the constituency.

He said that, when the group reached the vicinity of Markland, they were attacked by men said to be supporters of the People's National Party (PNP). Sgt. Llewelyn added that the police confronted the men who retreated into Markland.

He said the men fired indiscriminately while being challenged by the police.

When the shooting subsided, Mrs. McCarthy was left battling for her life and a lawman, attached to the Grants Pen Police Station, was hit in the leg.

Kevin McCarthy said his mother had just said her midday prayers when she was shot in the neck.

"A some food mi a cook and mi leave go use di bathroom when mi hear she shout out 'Jesus! Jesus'. When mi run go round deh mi si mi mother a di door way, in front a di dresser, full a blood," said a grieving Kevin, his white pants stained with his mother's blood.

Police injured

The police are yet to say whose gun the bullet came from, but noted that they will have to depend on forensic analysis to come to a conclusion.

Meanwhile, in Central Kingston, residents accused the police of shooting indiscriminately at them. They said that the attacks were unprovoked and politically motivated.

One man, meanwhile, said the police were shot at but denied charges that gunmen attacked first.

Two broken bicycles and cries of anguish were signs emanating from the community, which claimed that some of its members were beaten up by the police.

A policeman attached to the Gold Street Station was shot three times in the incident.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com