FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Thirty-year-old Cassell Robinson, who was shot and killed during a joint police/military operation in Race Course in the parish yesterday morning, was a suspect in the shooting and injury of a man accused of raping and strangling a sales representative in Hague Settlement earlier this month.

The body of the sales representative, Toneva Forbes, 23, was found wrapped in a sheet under a bed in the man's house on October 1.

While the police were processing the scene, gunshots were heard coming from another section of the community. The man, said to have occupied the house in which the woman's body was discovered, was found suffering from gunshot wounds in bushes. The injured man was admitted to hospital under police guard.

Yesterday's operation, which began about 6:30 am, involved personnel from the Mobile Reserve, Flying Squad, Trelawny police, and members of the Jamaica Defence Force.

During the operation, Robinson — who was allegedly seen at a gate with a bag — ran inside a house when he saw the members of the joint security team.

He was reportedly chased inside the house where he was shot after allegedly pointing a gun at the law enforcers.

Three Glock pistols, 163 rounds of assorted ammunition and two kilogrammes of cocaine were seized during the operations. The police said the ammunition seized include 67 9mm rounds, 60 40-calibre rounds, 14 .45 rounds, three 7.56 rounds, 16 .38 rounds, and three .357 rounds.

The Trelawny police said Robinson, who was otherwise called 'Boysie' and 'Jaro', was the leader of the Boysie gang, which operates in Race Course. He was at the top of the most wanted list in the parish and was wanted for murder, shooting, illegal gun and drug smuggling, among other crimes.

According to the Constabulary Communication Network, Robinson was a major player in the criminal underworld where he specialised in crimes for profit.

Yesterday's incident drew a large gathering in the tough Race Course community where several women were overheard lamenting Robinson's demise and how it would impact the community. Residents also converged on the Falmouth Public Hospital, where Robinson was pronounced dead.

"When Boysie around we are not afraid of gunmen and rapists. Dem shouldn't kill him," one woman blurted. However, there were others who praised the police for doing "a good job".