Two of three gunmen were shot dead yesterday after their attempt to rob a public passenger bus turned into a bloody gunfight with one of the passengers and police who were quick on the scene.

But while the brazen heist failed, three of the passengers died from gunshot wounds and a baby was injured.

The incident, which occurred about 1:10 pm on Grove Road in Kingston, left the surviving passengers terrified and further heightened public concern after the murder of five men by gunmen in Portmore, St Catherine late Thursday night.

It was not clear when the gunmen boarded the bus, which was travelling from downtown Kingston to Golden Spring. However, the police said that when the vehicle got to Balmoral Avenue the three bandits ordered the driver to turn off the busy road and head to Grove Road.

One female passenger told the Observer that the gunmen started abusing and robbing the passengers.

“Everything just happened so suddenly,” said the woman. “I got on the bus at Oxford Road. When the bus reached Balmoral Avenue one man, with a gun in his hand, ordered the driver to turn on Grove Road.”

She said that another of the gunmen ordered the passengers to stay calm. But after obeying the gunmen, the driver ran out of the bus, the woman said, her voice still trembling.

She said that it was at this point that a male passenger, who was armed, confronted the gunmen.

“It was all confusion from there,” the woman said. “There was blood everywhere. People were screaming as the sounds of gunshots echoed throughout the bus. People were on the ground screaming for their life.”

When the smoke cleared, one of the gunmen lay dead and several other persons were injured.

“I saw a mother just sitting in one of the seats with what appeared to be gunshot wounds, blood was everywhere,” said the woman. “I also saw a baby and there was blood around.”

Police yesterday confirmed that two men and one woman succumbed to gunshot wounds they received during the ordeal. Police also said one of the gunmen was fatally shot on the bus.

Another was shot and killed in the Kencot Gully just minutes after a police team arrived at the scene and challenged him and his crony as they fled.

Up to press, time police had still not released the names of the victims.

Police however, said they seized two guns, a 9-mm pistol and a .38 revolver.

The bus killings came less than 24 hours after Owen Henry, 39; Kenton Headley, 30; Levil Anderson, 45; Lerrimore Warmington, 56; and a man known only as ‘Pazzam’, all of St Catherine addresses, were shot dead in Portmore’s Portsmouth community Thursday night.

Police report that the group of men was playing dominoes when 10 gunmen alighted from two vehicles and shot them.

The St Catherine South police say they are seeking a man known only as ‘Don Topping’ who has been named as a person of interest in the Portsmouth killings.

Yesterday, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington described the acts as ‘barbaric’ and said they represent a clear statement of intent by criminal elements that they are willing to test the resolve, determination and capabilities of the police in maintaining law and order.

“Over the last 24 hours, two particularly barbaric and brutal incidents perpetrated by criminals have taken place in St Catherine and St Andrew,” Ellington said.

“I am issuing a warning to these criminals that their attempts to unsettle the police in the conduct of their lawful duties will be met with stern resistance,” he added. “I have directed my men and women to relentlessly pursue these and other criminals, knowing that they have my full support. These criminals represent a threat to law and order in the society and they must not be given the opportunity to kill again. They will be brought to justice.”

Yesterday, the police issued an appeal to ‘Don Topping’ to report to the Greater Portmore Police Station by 8:00 am today.