Carpenter charged following armed robbery in St Mary

Several charges have been laid against a St Ann carpenter following an armed robbery in Spring Valley Heights, Valley Bush, St Mary, on March 23.

He is 28-year-old Ranaldo Lee, otherwise called 'Pops', of Middle Street, Ocho Rios, St Ann.

The Port Maria police say about 3:00 a.m., police were alerted to a robbery in the community where several persons at a business establishment were held at gunpoint and robbed of an undetermined sum of cash, cellular phones and assorted liquors.

The police responded and on their arrival, they discovered that the robbers had escaped on foot as their getaway car had crashed into a yard and burst into flames.

With the assistance of the residents, the area was corralled and a search operation was initiated. During the operation, the lawmen reportedly came under gunfire, took evasive action and returned fire in the direction of their attackers.

When the shooting subsided, Lee and his accomplice, who was fatally shot during the exchange, were captured and a firearm and several rounds of ammunition seized.

Lee was taken into custody, where he was charged with robbery with aggravation, shooting with intent, assault at common law, possession of prohibited weapon, unauthorised Possession of ammunition and using a firearm to commit a felony on Saturday.

His court date is being finalised.

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