Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Police in St Elizabeth were kept busy up to late yesterday, as they traded bullets with approximately nine gunmen in the Lacovia area for hours.

Three of the gunmen have been shot dead while two AK-47 rifles and 27 live rounds were recovered.

Late last evening, police say they were only able to release the name of one of the dead men as Alric Green, alias 'Bulla'; 'Scar Face' and 'Bun Up', 35, of Dry Harbour, Lacovia. He was positively identified by relatives.

The police had ascertained names for the other two men, but say they would not release them until they were certain.

The police have confirmed, however, that the men were from the Lacovia area.

Subofficer in charge of the Black River Police Station, Inspector Louis Brown, said:

"The police were acting on information received that gunmen numbering about nine were spotted in the community. On arrival, the police party was greeted with gunfire. During the exchange of gunfire, some of the men escaped."

Hours after the shooting had subsided, police carried out a search in bushes and three men were found suffering from gunshot wounds. They were taken to the Black River Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Several spent shells were also recovered from the scene.

A further operation was carried out in the area and about 10 men were picked up by the police and detained at the Black River police headquarters where they were interrogated and processed.

No detainees were released up to press time.

Ongoing feud

Inspector Brown said there was an ongoing feud involving men in and around the Lacovia area, stemming from the infamous drugs-for-guns trade.

"We have been having some shooting incidents in the area. The operation was led through intelligence gathering and this will be ongoing. Other areas will be feeling the effects from the effective policing that is being undertaken," said Brown.

On Thursday, 27-year-old Denroy Knight was shot dead execution style in the Lacovia area. Knight, popularly known as 'Don Man' of Dry Harbour, was walking when two men crept up behind him and shot him in the head through the ears, killing him on the spot.

This followed the murder of 26-year-old Ricardo Whyte of Cuffes Pen on Monday. His bullet-riddled body was found lying along the Holland roadway at about 6 a.m.

Police suspect that Knight and Whyte's deaths are linked to the drugs-for-guns trade.

noel.thompson@gleanerjm.com