ST ANN, Jamaica – Two men were shot and killed and another wounded at a bar in Dam Head Square, Steer Town, St Ann on Tuesday night.

The deceased have been identified as Jahvardo Whitlock, a 39-year-old chef, and 27-year-old Akeem Reid, otherwise called “Older Head”, a labourer, both of the community.

Reports are that at about 10:50 pm, Whitlock, Reid and another man were at a bar having drinks when a motor car drove up and men alighted and opened gunfire at them.

They were taken to hospital where Whitlock and Reid were pronounced dead and the other man admitted for treatment.

One resident, who opted not to be named, described the incident as tragic.

“[I] feel a way about the incident bredda. Mi nah lie, because this is not a violent area. To hear two people died at once, it’s awful,” he said.

He expressed that he hopes the police will bring the perpetrators to justice.

“These are two youths who have hardly started living their lives yet. [I] just hope the police catch anybody who do this, or if you out there and know say you do this, stop killing,” he said.

Official statistics have shown that some 53 people have been killed in St Ann since the start of the year, an increase of 12 per cent in comparison to 41 in the corresponding period last year.