ST JAMES, Jamaica – Four people have been gunned down in five separate shooting incidents in Western Jamaica between last night and this morning.

Three of the shootings took place in St James while the other two occurred in Westmoreland.

In St James two men were shot dead and a third man, as well as a woman, injured.

The dead men have been identified as 52-year-old Noel Peters, commonly called Freddy, of Hurlock in the parish and 28-year-old Julius “Kelly” Clarke, of Peace View, Rose Heights also in St James.

Clarke was attacked by unknown assailants in his community at about seven ‘o’clock last night.

And at about eight ‘o’ clock, Peters was fatally shot during an armed robbery at his home.

Meanwhile, the injured man and woman were shot about 6:45 pm as they walked in the Lilliput community.

In Westmoreland, 44-year-old hotel employee, Charmaine Mahabee of Town Head, Burnt Savannah in the parish was shot in Toll Gate, Frome, as she journeyed to catch her staff bus.

Meanwhile, in Negril a 44-year-old businessman of a St Andrew address was killed as he was about to leave his business place at around 12:50 am.

He has been identified as Christopher Durrant of a Kirkland Heights address.

The Constabulary Communications Unit said that Durrant was killed shortly after closing the doors to his business establishment in West End, Negril. Loud explosions were reportedly heard in the area and upon the arrival of the police, Durrant was found with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Anthony Lewis