Gunman in bus shooting still at large

His two cronies are in the morgue, but the third gunman in the foiled daylight attempted robbery of a public-passenger vehicle on Grove Road is still at large. After the smoke cleared, five people, including two of the robbers, were killed in the botched hold-up attempt.

Yesterday, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) released the names of the two would-be robbers, one of whom was 21 years old. He has been identified as Kemar Thomas of Sunlight Street in the Kingston 13 community. The other gunman who was killed has been identified as Roderick Ricketts of Galloway Road, also in Kingston 13.

According to the police, the gunmen took over the bus on Half-Way Tree Road at approximately 1:10 p.m. and diverted it to Grove Road in St Andrew where they started to rob passengers. The gunmen were challenged by an armed passenger, and a deadly shooting spree ensued claiming the lives of three persons.

A child who was shot during the incident had reportedly died, but checks with the police up to late yesterday indicated the reports were false. One of the gunmen who was shot died at hospital.

Several policemen who had rushed to the scene after the bus was commandeered combed the area for the two remaining criminals. The crime fighters intercepted the gunmen in the Kencot gully. A shoot-out followed and another of the fugitives was fatally shot. Two guns, a 9mm pistol, and a .38 revolver were seized.