WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Two men were shot dead in separate incidents in Westmoreland on Saturday morning as criminals continue to wreak havoc in the parish.

One of the deceased men has been identified as 54-year-old Omar James, a fruit vendor of St James. The second victim has only been identified by his alias “Rasta”.

Reports from the Savanna-la-Mar police are that about 6:10 am, James was unloading fruits from his motor vehicle, when a motorcycle drove up with two men aboard. One of the men then approached James and opened gunfire hitting him in the head.

The men then drove off on the same motorcycle.

The police were alerted and, on their arrival, James was seen lying along the roadway in a pool of blood with a single gunshot wound to his head. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Speaking with Observer Online on Saturday afternoon, Zone Four commander for Little London and Negril Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Shaunjaye Mitchell said the second incident took place on Nonpariel Road, in Negril.

“We had a murder shortly after 10′ o clock, this morning on Nonpariel Road. It is reported that a gentleman was coming out of his premises in his vehicle when he was pounced upon by a man [who] shot him several times in his vehicle. He subsequently died on location,” DSP Mitchell revealed.

Mitchell also said two persons were robbed outside a mini mart at West End in Negril on Saturday morning. He said thieves grabbed items from their vehicles.

He said the police have been responding to a number of incidents in the space and he is appealing citizens to cooperate with the lawmen.

“We are urging citizens to report any unusual activities and strange vehicles parked at premises; report them to the police so we can investigate same,” he appealed.

He added that a number of assets have been deployed in the Negril zone.

“We have the quick response unit, the military/police support. We have a number of police patrols along Norman Manley Boulevard, Red Ground and along Nonpariel Road,” he reassured.

On Friday, Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Western Morland Wilson called for a State of Public Emergency amid the spate of robberies and murders in the parish.

– Kimberley Peddie