Bartholomew Chan, Gleaner Writer
THE POLICE have managed to pull at least eight illegal firearms from the nation's streets in the past week.
Last Wednesday, citizens of Constant Spring handed over a home-made firearm to the police. The gun was abandoned by a man after he fled from the scene where he had attempted to rob a female resident of Washington Boulevard. The woman, who had been hit several times with the gunman's weapon, was treated in hospital for her injuries.
Three more home-made firearms were seized by the police in an operation carried out in Monza, Greater Portmore, on Friday. After an extensive search, the three weapons were located under a community footbridge. The Portmore police continue their investigations into the matter.
TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLDS CHARGED
Also on Friday, an illegal 9mm Beretta pistol was confiscated from two men who were seen handling the weapon by police. The men have since been charged with breaches of the Firearms Act. Twenty-six-year-olds Philbert Cunningham, of Seaview Gardens, Kingston 11, and Ricardo Whyte, of Duhaney Park, Kingston 20, were charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
Two arrests were made last Monday as three illegal firearms were gathered by the St. Thomas police. Twenty-year-old mason, Sheldon Davis of Montpelier district in Yallahs, St. Thomas, has been charged with shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.
The other arrest was that of 41-year-old taxi driver Steve Gardener, of Aeolus Valley, Yallahs, who has been taken in for questioning regarding the incident when he, Davis and an unknown man in a Toyota Corolla motor car were stopped by the police.
The vehicle's occupants allegedly opened fire on the police as they approached the stationary vehicle. The police returned fire and the three suspects all ran from the car. A Colt AR 15 rifle with 23 rounds, an Intra Tech 9mm sub-machine gun with 18 rounds and a Browning 9mm pistol were recovered from the Corolla.
Davis, who was injured in the incident, was handed over to the police by relatives and taken to hospital for treatment. Gardener later arrived at the police station and was taken into custody. The Yallahs CIB is investigating.
