MANDEVILLE, Manchester — A deadly attack in which gunmen killed two people and wounded five others at Mandeville Market on Friday has increased fear among residents in this south-central parish.

The shooting sent scores of people scampering for cover as two gunmen opened fire on a crowd of people about 10:00 am at the side entrance of the market across from Ballyhooly Road.

One of the slain individuals has been identified as Melissa Merchant, a resident of Warwick district in Asia, south Manchester. The other victim has so far only been identified by residents of Three Chains district by his alias Wet up. Up to press time on Friday police had not released his formal name and did not give a motive for the attack. Efforts to get a comment from head of the Manchester police, Deputy Superintendent Carey Duncan, were unsuccessful as calls and messages to his phone went unanswered up to press time.

The midmorning shooting, which triggered chaos near the Mandeville town centre, increases to 41 the number of people murdered in Manchester since the start of the year.

Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell described the incident as a “sad day” for Manchester.

“When I was advised of the shooting in the vicinity of the market I was actually at a peace march with the principal from the Albion Primary School and students,” he said.

“It is a sad day because, while we were on the other side of town speaking peace, something else was happening in the town of Mandeville. I just want to convey my sympathies to the family of the two [victims],” added the mayor.

Mitchell, who visited Mandeville Regional Hospital on Friday, said only one person remains hospitalised.

“Seven people got shot, two fatally — a young man from my division and a young woman from south Manchester. Two people were treated and sent home. Two others are doing diagnostic tests and one person is still [admitted],” he said.

He encouraged residents to assist the police investigation.

“Whatever you know, speak, because the next person might be you. The young lady was just in the market doing her own business. One of the gentlemen was across the road in a syrup shop buying something, so it could have been any one of us,” he said.

Mitchell said the Manchester police have made strides in solving most of the shooting incidents in the parish.

“I just want to say to the people of Manchester, in my dialogue with the police things are not so bad in terms of the clear-up rate, because I was advised that about 82 per cent of the shootings have been cleared up, but it is hard for the police to be everywhere,” he said.

An eyewitness said the two gunmen escaped on foot.

“I reached right at Mother’s when I heard the shots. I thought it was the backfire of a bike. Then I saw two young men running and pushing the guns in their pockets. I just moved,” said the eyewitness who also claimed that, even as scores of people were scampering for cover, others were “running towards where the sound [of gunfire] was coming from than from it”.

Junious Morgan, who transported Merchant to hospital, said passersby tried to save her life.

He said he was in his pickup truck with his wife, whom he was taking to see her doctor as she was not well. The vehicle was parked as he was awaiting a shoe delivery from a shoemaker.

“When I turned around the back of the car was full with people and I didn’t know a dead woman was in there either. People were knocking and telling the traffic to get out of the way, so I figured that someone was hurt. When I got to the hospital everybody disappeared. I was left with a dead woman in the back and my sick wife sitting in the car,” he said.

Police and soldiers at the shooting scene near Mandeville Market on Friday (.Photos: Kasey Williams)

Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell speaking with journalists at Mandeville Regional Hospital on Friday after a gun attack in the town claimed the lives of two people and left five others injured.