MONTEGO BAY, St James — The leadership of the police in St James say they will be working overtime to bring the individuals responsible for the deadly attack on a policeman’s family to justice.

“We are pulling out all the stops; no stones will be left unturned to find the people responsible and the people who are supporting these criminals, so the pursuit is on,” operations officer for the parish, Deputy Superintendent Lynroy Edwards told the Jamaica Observer.

The cop, who is assigned to the Area 1 Lottery Scam Task Force, along with his spouse and five-year-old son were attacked by armed assailants while travelling in a motor car on Reading main road in St James, Saturday night.

Police report that the family had travelled to a location on the road to collect a key for a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, the policeman, who was driving a Honda Vezel motor car, stopped in the vicinity of the building that was formerly the Elevate Lounge. A short while later another vehicle arrived and parked just behind the vehicle in which they were travelling on the road.

His spouse, who has been identified as 36-year-old Latoya Stephenson, exited the car and walked to the car and collected the keys. However, while returning to the car in which she had travelled, armed men opened fire at the vehicle, hitting the trio.

Stephenson was hit in the upper body, the policeman was shot in the back and the child in the head.

She subsequently succumbed to her injuries while the cop and the little boy were admitted in hospital in critical condition.

One man was initially deemed a person of interest in the matter, based on information garnered so far that he was the person whom the cop had gone to meet.

However, according to a police source familiar with the matter, a woman is now high on the constabulary’s list of suspects as they continue their investigation.

On Sunday, Deputy Superintendent Edwards said the gun attack has hit the division really hard, even though the police constable was assigned to the Area 1 Lottery Scam Task Force.

“We are distraught, this an attack on a policeman’s family by criminals; [it] can’t get any worse than that. This is an attack on the State,” he said.

“We are coalescing around him, we’re getting support inside and outside of the force, across the various divisions,” he stated.

“We have no doubt that we will bring closure to this in short order,” he added.

On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang condemned the ambush on the cop and his family.

“This deliberate assault on a serving officer and his family is a grave and unacceptable act that strikes at the heart of law and order. It represents not only an attack on an individual family, but also on the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way daily to serve and protect Jamaica. Such acts will not be allowed to go unanswered,” Dr Chang said.

He said the security ministry is fully supporting the investigation being led by the Jamaica Constabulary Force and is committed to ensuring that those responsible are apprehended and brought to justice.

“We call on all Jamaicans with information to assist the authorities in swiftly advancing this case. Acts of violence against our law enforcement officers and their families will not be tolerated, and the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on the perpetrators,” Dr Chang added and extended condolence to the policeman, his family and the constabulary..

Opposition spokesman on national security Peter Bunting also condemned the attack.

“This cold-blooded assault on a young family is yet another tragic reminder of the unrelenting violence plaguing our society,” said Bunting. “Our heartfelt condolence go out to the family… and to the extended JCF family. No officer, and no citizen, should ever have to endure such trauma,” Bunting said in a release.