WESTERN BUREAU — Thirty-five year-old police constable Everton Lawrence, who is assigned to the Sandy Bay police station in Hanover, was shot and injured by a gunman in the Banbury Hill community of the parish early yesterday morning.

According to the police, at about 2:00 am the off-duty cop, who has served the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) for more than five years, was leaving a friend’s house in the small district when he was approached by a gunman who demanded money.

A senior officer at the Hanover Divisional Headquarters in Lucea told the Observer yesterday that when the gunman’s demand was not met he opened fire, hitting the cop in the upper part of his body.

“After he (Lawrence) was shot, the occupants of the house made an alarm and the gunman made good his escape,” the senior officer added.

The injured cop was taken to the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, but was later transferred to another hospital where he underwent surgery. Up to late yesterday he was said to be in a serious, but stable condition.

Superintendent in charge of the Hanover police division, Linnette Williams-Martin, yesterday condemned the incident and called on persons with information to come forward.

She noted that Lawrence was a hard-working policeman who carried out his work efficiently, and was easy to get along with.

It was only on Monday night that 29 year-old special constable, Metro McFarlane, who is assigned to the neighbouring parish of St James, was shot and injured by gunmen.

He was reportedly watching a game of dominoes in the Dallas area of Glendevon when he was shot in the right leg.