Fire destroys house in Patrick Town, crops in Beacon

Fire on Saturday destroyed a six-bedroom house at Patrick Town, Manchester and crops in Beacon district, St Elizabeth.

The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) reported that at about 11:30 am, fire was seen coming from a bedroom to the rear of the house. The fire quickly spread, engulfing the building. The fire brigade was summoned and one unit from the Mandeville Fire Department extinguished the blaze. No one was injured.

Loss is estimated at $3 million. The house was not insured.

In the other incident fire of unknown origin destroyed over 25 acres of crops in Beacon district, St Elizabeth.

The CCN’s St Elizabeth liaison officer reported that at about 11:00 am, residents saw fire coming from the property. The fire quickly spread with the aid of strong winds, completely destroying onions, tomatoes and melons. Two units from the Black River and Junction dire departments and one unit from the National Water Commission Rapid Response Unit put out the fire.

Loss is estimated at over $300,000.

Barber shot dead

Tuscaunt Rodney, a 56 year-old barber was shot dead by a gunman at his barbershop at Martin Street, Spanish Town, St Catherine Saturday night.

The CCN’s St Catherine North liaison officer reported that at about 8:15 pm, Rodney was at his shop when a man armed with a gun entered. The man reportedly opened fire hitting him in the face. He was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where he was pronounced dead. An expended .38 bullet was taken from the scene.

The Spanish Town police who are investigating have not yet established a motive for the killing.

Crescent Road resident shot dead

Claudine Anderson, 32, was shot and killed by unknown assailant(s) at her home at Crescent Road, Kingston 13 Saturday night.

The police said that at about 10:30 pm, residents in the area reportedly heard explosions. Anderson’s body was found with multiple gunshot wounds on the floor of a room at her house. The body was removed to the morgue for post mortem. Three 9mm spent shells and three expended bullets were taken from the scene by police investigators.

Cops kill man, teenager arrested

One of a group of men who reportedly engaged the police in a shoot-out was fatally shot in Portmore St Catherine Saturday night. A teenager who was among the group has since been arrested and charged.

The dead man is unidentified while the 15 year-old teenager has been charged with simple larceny, shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

According to the police, at about 9:25 pm, three men and a teenage boy reportedly went to a supermarket at 5 East, Greater Portmore where they stole several bottles of liquor, before running from the establishment. A police patrol in the area was alerted and the group was spotted. They were challenged by the lawmen when they opened fire on the police. During an ensuing shoot-out, the unidentified man was shot and injured and the teenager held. The other men made their escape in the area.

The injured man was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The teenager was subsequently arrested and charged.

Five bottles of the stolen loot were recovered by the Portmore police.