WESTERN BUREAU — The police have charged 30 year-old Dalton James, the prime suspect in Monday’s shooting death of Detective Inspector Rupert Gardner, with shooting with intent and illegal possession of a firearm.

However, the charges are not connected to Monday’s daring daylight slaying of the lawman, but a shoot-out with the police hours later.

According to crime chief for the parish, Detective Superintendent Roy Boyd, James engaged in a shoot-out with the police in the Mount Salem area of Montego Bay Monday night.

Gardner’s murder was reportedly caught on a surveillance tape that the police have been trying to enhance since Monday evening, which they expected would help them positively identify the second suspect in Gardner’s shooting. However, up to last night there was no indication that there had been a breakthrough.

“Based on the nature of the investigation they will not be releasing any pictures of the suspects,” said Constabulary Communications Network liaison officer Constable Peter Salkey.

DSP Boyd was also tight-lipped regarding the tape, saying it was “still being worked on”.

Detective inspector Gardner was shot while transacting business in a cambio at the Westgate Shopping Mall in the Montego Bay. Hours later James, whom Gardner had released from jail last Thursday after witnesses failed to come forward and link him to another murder case, was identified as the prime suspect.

He turned himself in to the police Tuesday morning.