WESTERN BUREAU — The police were up to last night trying to find a motive for Sunday’s murder of two Montego Bay men and the injury of two others in the Princess Street area of the city.

The murder of the two — Bobby Fray, 25, of Princess Street and Hart Street resident John Hayles, 32 — has pushed the murder toll in St James to 52.

The police reported that at about 10:40 am, residents in the Princess Street area reportedly heard gunshots and Fray was later discovered in the shop he owned and operated, with gunshot wounds to the chest and arm. Another man was found along the roadway with a gunshot wound to the right leg.

Both men were taken to hospital where Fray was pronounced dead and the other man admitted in stable condition.

A white Toyota Corolla motor car, registered 3725 AB was reportedly seen speeding away from the scene, residents said.

Later that same night, at about 9:45 pm, a 19-year-old mason, John Hayles, was chopped to death by seven men and his 29-year-old friend injured.

The police said that Hayles and his friend, who is also a mason, were walking along the Bottom Bronx main road in Rose Heights where Hayles lived when the group of machete wielding men accosted them.

The police have identified two of the men as “Bagga” and “Tusane”.

After the altercation, Hayles later died in hospital from machete wounds to the head, both legs and both hands.

His companion escaped with his life but not without injury. He incurred a chop to the head and is now in hospital in stable condition.