ST THOMAS, Jamaica — Police have indicated that three men killed in an early morning shootout with lawmen in the St Thomas community of Poor Man’s Corner on Thursday were unfamiliar with the area.

The men were fatally shot after allegedly attempting to break into a liquor store.

READ: WATCH: Three break-in suspects killed by police in St Thomas

Senior Superintendent and Area 5 Commander, Christopher Phillips, in recounting the early-morning shooting, said a businessman upon arriving at his establishment, stumbled upon a vehicle which aroused his suspicion. Upon investigations, the man was reportedly fired upon by men emerging from his business place. He reportedly returned fire causing the men to flee in the vehicle.

The businessman upon realising his establishment was breached, went to conduct further investigations but was pounced upon by a machete-wielding man who was reportedly left behind by his cronies as he was still inside the establishment as they made their escape.

The police were subsequently alerted and a description of the getaway car was given. The lawmen then went in pursuit of the vehicle.

“Police pursued the vehicle into the Pen community. When they entered the Grants Pen community, they saw a group of men and two vehicles were parked on the roadway. They fired at the police, the police team took evasive action and returned the fire. At the end of that shooting, two men were found suffering from gunshot wounds. The men were rushed to the hospital where they were later pronounced dead.”

SSP Phillips said a 9mm pistol with one magazine and five live rounds were taken from the scene.

The senior cop said the deceased men may have been from the Kingston Western area.

One resident from the community heaped praises on the police for cutting down the criminals. The resident expressed that had the perpetrators not been caught, residents would have been forced to believe the robbery was carried out by men in the community.

Video by Llewellyn Wynter