Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth – St Elizabeth police are investigating the 19th murder in the parish this year following the shooting and chopping death of 32 year-old Rayon Newsome of Jointwood District in the Maggotty area of northern St Elizabeth early yesterday morning.

Newsome was murdered after he allegedly inflicted knife wounds on two brothers visiting from abroad, during an altercation.

Police say that at 2:30 am Newsome walked into a shop in the district in which about 30 people – including the two brothers – were socialising after a wedding.

Newsome is said to have gotten into an altercation with the brothers and used a knife to inflict wounds to both.

Newsome was then set up on by others in the shop and taken to a nearby gully where he was shot and chopped to death. Police say he received two gunshot wounds.

The two brothers, whose names the police have withheld, were taken to hospital where one was treated and released and the other admitted.

Police say that up to yesterday no arrests had been made and the gun used in the incident had not been recovered.

The Maggotty Police are leading the investigation.