How a prisoner at a MoBay lock-up got a cop's gun

A preliminary police report indicates that last night's bizarre shooting incident at the Montego Bay police lock-up in Freeport, St James, stemmed from an altercation involving five prisoners. 

A 35-year-old inmate who allegedly used a policeman's gun to shoot at his fellow inmates is facing charges of assault, wounding and discharging a weapon. 

The incident happened about 7:30 p.m.

It's reported that a dispute developed among five prisoners on the cell block, which resulted in a physical altercation.

During the fight, one of the prisoners sustained stab wounds to his upper body. 

Cops on duty responded. Among them was an officer who was reportedly about to leave work. That cop reportedly placed his firearm under a desk in an area near the cell block before joining the response effort.

The injured prisoner was later put in the area where the firearm was placed. He allegedly took the weapon and pointed it at one of the cops with demands for the gate to the cell block to be opened.  

According to the report, the policeman opened the gate out of fear for his life. 

The armed prisoner then allegedly shot one of the prisoners before continuing to fire more shots in the cell area. A policeman was grazed by a bullet. 

An armed female cop who was in the vicinity reportedly went to assist her distressed colleagues but was reportedly frightened and was "unable to respond". 

Another cop took her weapon and fired at the prisoner with the gun, hitting him in the upper body and left foot, the report said.

The prisoner then reportedly threw the gun on the floor. It was retrieved by the other cops. 

The injured cop, the rogue prisoner and the man he shot were taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital for treatment.

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