MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Residents of Mandeville are expressing shock and concern following a prolonged shootout between security forces and an armed man at an apartment complex on Caledonia Road on Tuesday.

Reports are that sometime around 10:00 am, police personnel were in the vicinity of the apartment complex when a shooting occurred. Several shots were fired as what appeared to be a standoff occurred between the armed assailant and members of the security forces.

Mandeville resident King described the incident as unprecedented in the normally quiet community.

“Blazing gun shot for at least three hours. The hottest thing I ever see in Mandeville,” shared King, who continued, saying it was “not a good thing for the parish”.

“We nuh use to dem something yere, a movie alone we see dem something yere. We nuh wah train we youth dem fi grow up and fi bus gun shot,” he said.

Another resident, Everton Nathan, who has been living in the community for over 40 years, said this was the first time he had witnessed something like the shooting that took place.

“I think it’s getting bad, as citizen we all need to come together and get these type of people out,” Nathan said.

Noting reports that the person involved was a deportee living among residents, he added, “We have to be careful and support each other and make sure we know what is what and who is who.”

READ: STAND-OFF: Deportee trades gunfire with security forces in prolonged battle after Mandeville murder