ST CATHERINE, Jamaica -Two men who were reportedly involved in an armed confrontation with the police on Thursday were shot and killed in Greater Portmore, St Catherine.

Police said the gun battle began in Spanish Town in the parish, and culminated in Greater Portmore. Two 9mm pistols and a quantity of ammunition were also seized, police reported.

In a news conference on Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of crime Fitz Bailey identified one of the deceased men as Christopher Shield otherwise called ‘Gang Bang’, who he went on to describe as a “prolific contract killer”.

He reported that Thursday’s shootout with the police was the result of the security forces attempting to prevent Shield from perpetrating a murder which was planned for St Catherine.

In highlighting Shield’s list of crimes, DCP Bailey stated that the deceased man was the one responsible for the murder of siblings 20-year-old Kerrick Moodie and his sister 22-year-old Keneisha Moddie of Grange Hill in Westmoreland who were killed on Friday, December 8, 2023.

“He was the one who was seen on social media burying the two individuals after they were killed by him. So I highlight that to say this individual is a vicious criminal who is very heartless and people like him should either be in custody or where he is at now,” DCP Bailey stated.

The deputy commissioner also revealed that Shield was the main perpetrator in a series of robberies in Westmoreland.

He and along with other individuals reportedly organised and executed a multimillion-dollar robbery in the parish on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.

A week later, Shield was also allegedly involved with the shooting death of a Westmoreland taxi operator, 24-year-old Romie Taylor, who was killed and his Toyota Voxy motor car stolen.

“One hour after that murder he was again involved in another murder in Westmoreland where they also tried to rob the victim of a Toyota Voxy motor car. On Monday, the 8th of January 2024, ‘Gang Bang’ stole a motor vehicle and it was used to transport his cronies to have it scrapped somewhere in St Catherine,” DCP Bailey reported.

During the press conference DCP Bailey did not reveal the identity of the other man who was killed by police in Greater Portmore, St Catherine.

DCP Bailey commended the police who were involved in stopping the planned attack in St Catherine. He said these officers “constantly risk their lives to ensure that Jamaica is a safer place”.