The St Catherine South police have surpassed, by one, the 78 illegal guns seized in the division last year with the haul of three weapons during a deadly alleged firefight yesterday afternoon.

Dead are Jason Knight, 25, Nigel Reid, 23, of Church Pen, St Catherine, and Ian O'Connor, otherwise called 'Biggeral', of Tivoli Gardens, Kingston.

Reports from the Old Harbour police are that about 4 p.m. yesterday, cops went in search of O'Connor who, they say, was a person of interest.

The police said that when they entered a yard, a group of men shot at them. Two of the assailants were hit in the gun battle.

The police team said they proceeded to another house in the yard and were met by more gunfire. A third man was hit.

O'Connor, Knight and Reid were pronounced dead at hospital.

Confident

"We are trying to reassure residents that the police will work to protect confidential information and are ready to get their assistance in keeping a lid on criminal activities in the division," remarked Detective Sergeant Carey Harvey of the Old Harbour police.

More than 20 guns have been seized in the Old Harbour area this year, the police have said.

Meanwhile, The Gleaner has learnt that the Spanish Town police killed two men in an alleged shoot-out and seized two guns. The clash ended in Westmore Gardens.

That gun haul brings to five, the number of illegal guns to be seized in less than 24 hours.

The Bureau of Special Investi-gations is probing both incidents.

rasbert.turner@gleanerjm.com