ST JAMES, Jamaica — Police from the St James Division are reporting that an operation to find wanted men aligned to the Ratty Gang was conducted this morning.

The police say the operation, which took place in the Wotumpeng area of Cambridge in St James about 5:00 am, was made possible due to “intensive” intelligence gathering on the gang over a sustained period.

During this operation, the police party reportedly approached premises where these men were suspected to have been and were greeted with gunfire. The police say they were able to take cover and return fire.

Following this, the police say two men were found shot and injured. The police have identified one of the men as Richard Anderson, otherwise called ‘Crews’, who they say is wanted for murders in the parish. The other man is yet to be identified.

Both men were taken to hospital where the police say they succumbed to their injuries.

The police say several other men escaped, but two firearms — a Smith and Wesson revolver and a Colt pistol — were seized after the shooting subsided.

The police also say that Ryan Peterkin, otherwise called ‘Ratty’, and his gang have been operating with “impunity” in the Cambridge area and are responsible for several murders, shootings and robberies.

Due to their exploits and mayhem, law-abiding citizens have been living in fear and are being held hostage, the police contend.

According to Senior Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth, commanding officer for the St James Division, “This criminal gang is among several such gangs operating in the St James Division that are the focus of continuous police operations. To this end, we are asking the following persons to turn themselves in to the police”:

• Ryan Peterkin, otherwise called ‘Ratty’, from Cambridge, St James;

• Richard Anderson, otherwise called ‘Cruise’, from Cambridge, St James;

• Oswayne Jarrett, otherwise called ‘Ski Mask’, from Barrett Town, St James;

• Marlon Samuels, otherwise called ‘Brutal’, from Barrett Town, St James;

•  Christopher Boyd, otherwise called ‘Plank’, from Flanker, St James;

• Stephano Johnson, otherwise called ‘Sarge’ from Hampton, St James;

• Marcus Robinson, otherwise called ‘Killa’, of a St James address; and

• Shaniel Luton of a St James address.