Thealleged third-ranked commander of the St James-based Ski Mask criminal gang, Jermaine Samuels, was on Monday killed in an alleged confrontation with the police in Settlement district, Old Harbour Bay.

The police said in a news release yesterday that the Ski Mask gang, which operates out of Barrett Town, St James, is responsible for numerous murders, shootings, rapes, and other crimes committed in western Jamaica.

Samuels, who was otherwise called “Bad Bwoy”, was said to have fled the parish following the death of the gang’s reputed leader Oswyn Jarrett, otherwise called “Ski Mask”, along with five other members. The six were killed during a joint police/military operation in the Goodwill community of St James on January 14.

The police said yesterday that a Bersa 9mm pistol and seven 9mm rounds of ammunition were seized during Monday’s incident. The matter has also been reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations and the inspectorate of the Constabulary.

Meanwhile, lawmen are urging other members of the gang, namely Marlon McIntosh, otherwise called “Pinky”, and Robert Miller, otherwise called “Robbie” or “Dust’, to turn themselves in to the Freeport police by 6:00 pm today.

The police are also reminding the public that it is a criminal offence to harbour criminals.