ST ANN, Jamaica – The police are reporting that the man who was fatally shot by lawmen in Ocho Rios, St Ann on Thursday afternoon was a known violence producer.

Speaking to reporters following the incident, head of operations for the parish Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Kevin Francis said that the man, whose identity is being withheld, was on bail for previous crimes.

“The deceased person has been identified. What we can say is that this person recently reported on condition at the Ocho Rios police station. He is one of the violence producers. He is a person who is reporting on condition of bail for crimes previously committed,” he said.

Reports are that about 12:05 pm, the man was aboard a vehicle from where shots were reportedly fired at the police.

One of the occupants was hit and he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

READ: Man fatally shot by police, firearm seized in Ocho Rios

DSP Francis said the vehicle in which the men were travelling fit the description of a motor vehicle used in a robbery on Sunday in Ocho Rios.

“The information we have is that the police officers that are working at the CCTV room through the use of technology in monitoring our screens they observed a vehicle which fits the description of a motor car that was used in a robbery on Sunday in the town of Ocho Rios… as a result the police attempted to intercept the vehicle and tried to accost the occupants thereof, the police observing that one of the occupants of the vehicle pointed a gun at the police the policeman took evasive action and fired in the direction of the vehicle … the vehicle sped off and crashed some distance away from the original location of the incident (and) one man was found suffering from gunshot wounds,” he said.

He said the other occupant of the vehicle is being sought by the police.

“There was another man, who was in the vehicle, who ran from the police. The police made several efforts to locate the individual. We have yet to do so, and we are still searching,” he said.

“We have images of the individual, which we are currently carrying out some investigations. We have also identified the owner of the vehicle and we are asking for these persons to come forward to assist the police with this investigation as best as possible,” he added.