MANCHESTER, Jamaica – A man was shot dead by gunmen at his bar during a robbery on Saturday morning in Banana Ground, Manchester.

Relatives identified the victim as Omar Allen, said to be in his early 40s, a resident of Banana Ground.

Preliminary reports are that about 3:20 am Allen heard strange sounds coming from the bar which is operated by his spouse and which adjoins their home.

He went to investigate and was attacked by three gunmen who opened fire hitting him in the head. The gunmen made off with two poker boxes. They also reportedly poisoned several dogs at an adjoining premises.

Residents believe the culprits scoped out the area on Friday as two strange men were seen in the vicinity after alighting from a vehicle similar to that which the gunmen fled the scene in.

The victim’s brother, Christopher Allen, said the incident happened a week after another sibling was buried in the community.

“[Omar] no give nothing name trouble and when me sister call me and tell me say we breda dead me seh ‘no sah’. When I came up here I couldn’t believe… Him run him handcart inna market, him do him little hustling for his children,” the distraught relative said.

“A last week this time we buried his brother, so I never expected this. People have bad mind and grudge him for what him have. He is a hardworking man. Up to now me two knee them a wobble and me nuh believe seh dem gone with mi breda so,” added the relative.

Residents gathered near the scene in disbelief on Saturday morning.

“Is the first me see this happen in here. They walk and tear down the bars up here yes, but is the first we have a shooting gwaan in here. We never expected this,” said the victim’s brother.

Councillor Mario Mitchell (People’s National Party, Bellefield division) has expressed alarm following three homicides in Manchester within 48 hours.

“It is such sad news here on a Saturday morning. Normally this is a very quiet farming community and I am very concerned about the spate of murders in Manchester. Thursday at the parish council meeting we mentioned to the police and gave them commendations for keeping the crime down to a certain level. I think there is a 30 odd per cent reduction in major crimes in Manchester and to see immediately after that report we got a report of two other murders within the space of that 24 hours and now 48 hours after there is another murder. So we are concerned about the spike that happened this week,” said Mitchell.

“There are three homicides in Manchester for this particular week, so we hope that everything can go back to normalcy and some calm will come back to the parish. I want to assure the citizens that we will do everything with the police to ensure that whatever spike is happening that we can contain it,” he added.

The latest incident increases to seven the number of people killed in Manchester so far this year.On Thursday morning, popular dancer 26-year-old Brittania ‘DHQ Chicken’ Francis was gunned down at a bar in Richmond, Manchester while 37-year-old Klane Farquharson was fatally stabbed during a dispute with a fruit vendor.

Read:   Dancer ‘Dhq Chicken’ gunned down in Manchester  

Read: Man killed after allegedly attacking fruit vendor in Mandeville 

Councillor Mitchell is urging vigilance among citizens.

“Persons have to be vigilant while they are in the space of bars or community spaces. This seems to be a robbery. I want to urge the citizens to ensure that they take all the precautions necessary,” he said at the murder scene in Banana Ground.

–        Kasey Williams