POLICE yesterday shot and killed one man and arrested another following an alleged shoot-out with a group of men in Kirkland Heights, St Andrew.

The name of the dead man was not released up to press time.

Police cornered the men after they allegedly carried out a series of robberies in and around Red Hills and were attempting to make their escape through East Kirkland Heights.

Police said about 1:00 am they received reports that a group of men travelling in a grey motor car held up and robbed several people in the Chancery Hall area.

“After receiving the reports, a police team saw a group of men travelling in a vehicle fitting the description of the one in which the robbers were seen,” said an officer from the St Andrew North Police Division.

He said the men opened fire at the police when they were signalled to stop. The fire, he added, was returned and the driver of the vehicle lost control and it crashed into a utility pole.

“Two men alighted from the vehicle and fled into nearby bushes while the driver was held,” police said. The police added that following a search of the area the body of one man was found in the bushes, while the other escaped.

Yesterday, scores of residents from Kirkland Heights expressed shock at the incident, adding that in recent months their communities have come under attack from robbers.

“Is just last week I had to run for my life after gunmen travelling in a vehicle held up me and a friend while we were walking along the road,” said one resident, while another said only recently gunmen held her up and took her money and other valuables.