CLARKS TOWN, Trelawny — Less than 24 hours after the ambush and killing of a Clarks Town farmer, another man was gunned down and a woman injured in what residents have described as the killing of persons some have labeled as police informers.

Leonard Petgrave, a 40 year-old farmer was fatally shot at about 9:00 Tuesday evening, his death coming swiftly on the heels of Monday evening’s slaying of Sydney “Stumpy” Palmer who was shot four times.

Residents of the usually quiet farming community are now gripped by fear even though there is now a visible police presence in the community as the police intensify their manhunt for the killers. Yesterday, a tense calm hung over the community.

According to the Trelawny police, Petgrave was sitting on a bench in the town square when a white car drove up. The occupants of the car alighted and opened fire, hitting him several times. A woman who was standing nearby was also hit. They were both taken to the Falmouth Hospital where Petgrave was pronounced dead and the woman treated. The Clarks Town police, who are investigating, have not established a motive for the shootings.

However one resident told the Observer that the recent spate of killings was sparked by a heated argument between Palmer and Petgrave, and a group of men. It is alleged that the now deceased men were accused of being police informers and Palmer was also said to be the witness in an ongoing court case. Threats were made on both men’s lives, the source said.

Yesterday, political representatives spoke out strongly against the killings.

“I regret the senseless killings and there can be no justification for anyone to go around killing citizens who give evidence to the police,” said Dr Patrick Harris, member of parliament for North Trelawny. “The people who died were doing their duties as citizens, they saw a crime and they reported it. The perpetrators must be found and be brought to justice. I would appeal to anybody who has knowledge that can assist the police, to help the people of Clarks Town and stop the senseless carnage.”

Councillor Fernandez “Bingy” Smith also has expressed shock and alarm at both gruesome murders and called on the police to use all the resources available to them to bring the killers to justice.

“I am concerned about the level of violence that has crept upon the peaceful town. When this peaceful town can record two gruesome gun murders within 24 hours, it really states the level of crime and violence that has beset the country,” Smith lamented, as he expressed condolences to the grieving friends and families of those killed.

“We are really breeding and cultivating a generation of vipers who can only resolve their conflicts through gun usage,” the councillor added. “I am calling on the police to leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators of these wicked, despicable and unbridled acts of wickedness on the people of Clarks Town to justice.”