In sharp contrast to the usual buzz of activities, 83 Lane on Waltham Park Road, St Andrew, was a ghost town Friday afternoon.

The lack of activity was understandable as residents, still in shock at the shooting death of two police constables there Thursday night, stayed indoors.

“This is a Friday, and you can see the place is scanty,” one man told the Jamaica Observer inside a bar approximately 30 metres from the spot where constables Charles Stewart and Jemarey Gordon were murdered.

“Normally on a Friday, the place has more activities and vibes. This is my hang-out spot for many years now, so I can’t feel good to know that two policeman got murdered nearby,” the man added.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) reported that the two cops were at a business establishment attempting to intervene in an altercation during which they were shot dead. Observer sources said that at least one of the policemen was in uniform at the time of the incident, which occurred about 7:40 pm.

Constable Stewart, who was 30 years old, was assigned to the Spanish Town Police Station, while 32-year-old Constable Gordon was assigned to the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch.

Both cops, along with an associate, were said to be operating a car mart and motor vehicle parts business at 83 Lane.

On Friday, the constabulary named three men as persons of interest in the shooting deaths. They are 20-year-old Junior Brown, otherwise called Junior, of Seaward Drive, Kingston 11; 19-year-old Macarius Munroe, otherwise called Macky, of Ricketts Crescent, Kingston 11; and a man known only as Squidly.

One woman, who lives in the community, recalled the moment when the murders were committed, saying that the loud explosions caused people gathered outdoors to run for cover.

“I was in the bar and heard a whole heap a shot and mi see everybody a run up and down so I just lock up. When I stepped out, I saw someone lay down in the road. When I went out there I saw that it was Carlos. He died in his uniform because a work him a come from. He works at the Spanish Town Police Station,” she told the Observer.

“You could go to Carlos anytime and if you want a money to take care of something important, he would give you his last money. He is a ghetto youth who was trying,” she said.

“If you shoot a man like that who is in his police uniform, what would you do to us, the normal civilians?” she asked.

A male resident shared with the Observer a widely believed theory regarding the incident.

“Man thief car and leave it right at their business place and that’s how it escalated. Probably they weren’t thinking anything would happen. The police tried talking to them. Nobody expected it, it just happened. It shocking to everybody,” he said.

A close associate of Charles said that he was very distraught.

“I don’t even like talking about it. Charles is my family. I was there and saw everything. Di man dem a do foolishness and dem a talk to dem and di man dem pop off gun and start fire. We don’t know those guys. They are not from here. Charles had two kids. He has been running the car business about two years now. It’s a business shared by three of them,” the man said.

“The next policeman lived off Spanish Town Road. A next week the man fi go foreign too, enuh. About three youth the man have a foreign. He would fly out every year go spend time with his family. His mother and I went to the funeral home to identify the body. She almost dropped down,” he said.

Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake issued a statement condemning the murders.

“The JCF high command strongly condemns this senseless act of violence against those who have sworn to protect and serve. Let it be clear, we will spare no effort, no resource, and no measure to bring those responsible for this cowardly act to swift justice,” Commissioner Blake said.

“We mourn with the families, colleagues, and friends of our fallen members, Constable Stewart and Constable Gordon, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to confronting criminality with relentless resolve,” he added.

The JCF’s Chaplaincy Branch and Welfare Division are providing support to the family, friends, and colleagues of the slain constables.

Constables Charles Stewart (left) and Jemarey Gordon who were shot dead while they were off-duty on Waltham Park Road on Thursday, November 14, 2025.