PORTLAND, Jamaica – Three murders have been committed in Portland since the start of the year, all of which have occurred in the month of March.

Dead are 46-year-old Winston Passley, a businessman of a Hall’s Avenue address in Port Antonio; 24-year-old Anthony Wallis; and 71-year-old Valerina Whyte of Cornwall Barracks.

Passley is the latest victim. He was shot dead by unknown assailants last night on the Church Hill main road, in Fellowship, east Portland. Police report that Passley had gone to his girlfriend’s home and on returning to his motor vehicle, about 10:40 pm he was reportedly robbed and shot.

Meanwhile, Wallis was stabbed while riding his bicycle along Blake Lane in Buff Bay about 9:40 am on Monday and Whyte was found with stab wounds to the neck and hands about 7:50 pm on March 7.

Whyte had reportedly gone to tend to attend to chickens near her home in Cornwall Barracks when she was heard screaming for help. She was later discovered with stab wounds.

A 17-year-old is in custody in relation to Wallis’ death while a suspect is being questioned in relation to Whyte’s death.

Meanwhile, a man also committed suicide in Portland this week. His name has been given as Robert Fiss. Reports are that he jumped off a building at Fairy Hill.

Fiss’ death pushes the number of suicides in the parish since the start of the year to three.