Three of four men who allegedly held up and robbed a grocery store of prepaid phone cards, a cellular phone, groceries, and an undetermined sum of money at New Bowens in Halse Hall, Clarendon yesterday were shot dead by police.

Police say Dwayne Mitchell, Leon Wright and Sheldon Newman, all of Halse Hall, were cut down in a shoot-out in the nearby Hillview Heights community, shortly after the robbery was reported.

The fourth suspect, who police believe was injured in the alleged gunfight, is still on the run.

According to Constable Camay Watson, the Constabulary Communication Network’s liaison officer for Clarendon, about 10:00 yesterday morning the men were accosted as they walked along a road in Hillview Heights.

“They were seen acting suspiciously in that community, which is not far from where the robbery took place,” said Watson. “When the officers accosted them, two of them brandished handguns and opened fire at them. The police returned the fire and all three men were later found suffering from gunshot wounds.”

Police say a 9mm Sig Sauer was recovered from one of the dead men.

The injured men, the police spokeswoman said, were taken to the May Pen Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

She added that an undetermined sum of money, a cellular phone, several phone cards and groceries – which were allegedly stolen from the store – were recovered by the police.

“The incidents of robberies are growing, but the police have been stepping up to the plate with an increase in foot and mobile patrols,” she said.