KINGSTON, Jamaica – A man reportedly wanted for a murder and two shootings was shot dead, and a firearm seized during a police operation at the Habitat Housing Scheme in Kingston 11 Tuesday morning.

The dead man has been identified as 18-year-old Omario Coleman, otherwise called ‘Dujon’ from the housing scheme.

Reports are that around 5:00 am, a police team carried out  a cordon and search operation for wanted men, guns and drugs in the Majesty Gardens community of the St Andrew South Division.

The wanted men were said to have occupied premises on Majestic Pen Road.

Acting on intelligence, the police team proceeded to that location.

Upon arrival at the premises, the team separated into two groups, yielding to the left and right of the house. The team reportedly saw a female who appeared to be pregnant exiting the dwelling house with a child.

The members identified themselves, entered the dwelling and went along a passage.

A door that was closed in the passage suddenly opened, and a male armed with a firearm in his hand pointed it in the direction of the lawmen, the police said.

Out of fear for their lives, the cops immediately took evasive.

One of the lawmen, reportedly discharged three rounds from his M16 rifle in the direction of the man with the firearm.

The man fell to the ground clutching the firearm, a Taurus 9mm pistol with five rounds, which was immediately retrieved, according to the police.

The man was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

The police said that intelligence has revealed that Coleman is an affiliate of the Mahoe Drive/Niggers Lane gang.

He was a person of interest in last week’s murder of 22-year-old Jadee Clarke, otherwise called ‘Froggy,’ a hotel worker from Maple View Road in Kingston 11.

He was also a person of interest in the shooting of two men in Seaview Gardens, St Andrew, in April.

Police said they believe Coleman’s demise would have a positive impact on crime and criminality in his community.

— David Dunkley