WILLIAMSFIELD, Manchester — Police here say one of two brothers who was shot dead at a jerk centre and bar here on Friday in a brazen drive-by attack was the target of a contracted hit two years ago in St Andrew.

Police named the deceased brothers as Mark and Kirk McLean, both said to be from Cassava Piece, St Andrew.

A senior police source told the Jamaica Observer that Mark McLean, who is said to have had a chequered past, had survived an attempt on his life in 2020.

“The brothers, more so the older one [Mark], were the intended targets. They were trailed from St Andrew; they are from the Cassava Piece area. Mark was shot up two years ago in Barbican in a failed hit attempt. This time he was trailed from out of the space to [Manchester],” said the source.

A police report said shortly after midday the brothers and a woman were travelling in a Mercedes Benz motor car when they stopped at the jerk centre and bar in Williamsfield.

When the brothers exited the vehicle, police say gunmen travelling in a motor car opened fire, hitting them. The woman escaped unharmed.

A third man who was shot and injured in the incident has been identified as a worker on the US$188-million May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000. He had reportedly gone to the jerk centre to purchase his lunch when he was shot in the melee.

The men were taken to hospital where the brothers were pronounced dead and the highway worker admitted.

— Kasey Williams