ST JAMES, Jamaica — Councillor for Montego Bay South East, Arthur Lynch, has urged residents to be calm following Tuesday’s fiery early-morning protest in the Rose Heights section of the division, a day after three men were killed during what has been described as a shootout.

The police quickly cleared the blocked road.

“Let us not cause unnecessary drama in our communities,” Lynch appealed.

“The situation is that, allegedly, illegal weapons were found, they engaged the police and as such, the result is the result. We’re just asking members of the community to be safe and look out for each other and seek to maintain the unity we’ve had in our community for the last 12 years. I urge the community to remain vigilant and not have this as a distraction as we move into the festive season,” added the second-term councillor.

Two of the deceased have been identified as 40-year-old Herman Richards, otherwise called “Lizard”, of a Forty One Boulevard address in the community; and 27-year-old Jerome Whitter otherwise called “JJ” of Love View Crescent in Rose Heights. A third man of brown complexion, medium build and clad in a blue patterned T-shirt and green shorts at the time of the incident, was unidentified up to Tuesday afternoon.

READ: UPDATE: Two of three men identified in Rose Heights fatal shooting

According to the police, the men were fatally shot by members of the security forces after they fired at cops on Forty One Boulevard in Rose Heights. During the incident two firearms were allegedly seized, one black Taurus 9MM pistol with a magazine containing one 9MM round. The other was a Smith and Wesson .40 pistol with a magazine containing five .40 rounds.

The incident has since been reported to the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB) and the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom).

According to Observer Online sources, one of the deceased men was on a murder charge and they were all suspected of being part of a robbery syndicate.

READ: Three killed in alleged confrontation with police in St James

“They have been going around several parishes and information is that they were planning to rob the workmen working to restore electricity in certain areas,” said a cop who spoke on condition that his identity not be revealed.