KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang has urged the police to expend every effort to find and bring to justice the perpetrators of Friday evening’s drive–by shooting on Hart Street in Montego Bay, St James which left two people dead and eight others injured.

“I have had conversations with the leadership of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and indicated that every effort must be expended to find and bring to justice the gunmen who perpetrated this act of terror. So far, St James has had a major reduction in murders and violent crimes this year, following a reasonably successful 2024. We will not allow violent criminals to re-occupy the space and seek to drive fear into residents,” Chang said in a statement on Saturday.

“I encourage residents to tell the police what they know about the incident as soon as possible. We have a trustworthy and efficient JCF, which will treat information confidentially and move to act on intelligence received in order to protect our citizens and our communities from this type of criminality. Those who carried out the brazen act on Friday must know that we will find them, and lawful consequences will follow when they are apprehended and made to face the country’s justice system,” said Chang.

“The Government is confident that the JCF has adequate training to respond appropriately if the violent criminals choose to challenge them,” he added.

Chang said he has taken note of reports indicating that the shooting is believed to have been an act of reprisal for the killing of a gangster’s relative last year.

The perpetrators who opened fire on Friday were reportedly in pursuit of the alleged perpetrator, who is believed to frequent the area.