Police have identified the three men killed in an early morning gunbattle with lawmen in Poor Man’s Corner, St Thomas, on Thursday.

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

Those killed are 35-year-old Jermaine Chamberlain, from Tulip Lane; 22-year-old Joheim McDonald, otherwise called ‘Jiggs’ and ‘Bebe’, a warehouse assistant from Milk Lane, and Damion Fairweather from Pink Lane, all in Kingston 14.

Reports were that a businessman, upon arriving at his establishment, stumbled upon a vehicle which aroused his suspicion.

Upon investigating, he was reportedly fired upon by men emerging from his business place. He reportedly returned fire causing the men to flee in the vehicle.

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

The police entered the Grants Pen community, where they saw a group of men and two vehicles parked on the roadway. The men fired at the police, who returned the fire.

Reports said after the shootout, the men were found suffering from gunshot wounds. They were rushed to the hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. A 9mm pistol with a magazine and five live rounds were taken from the scene.

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