MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Police in Manchester have moved to reassure the public that the parish is safe to conduct business amid four murders in Mandeville and surrounding areas within 48 hours.

Head of the Manchester police Superintendent Carey Duncan told journalists on Wednesday during a walkthrough of Green Street that detectives theorise that the murders stem from interpersonal disputes.

“What we are seeing here are some targeting events where persons have disputes with each other and we are seeing it playing out a particular way,” he said following the latest murder in the adjoining area of Cedar Grove on Tuesday night.

“…What you are seeing here is to reassure the persons within this space that the police are in fact with you. We understand the challenges that are in the community at this time,” added Duncan.

He said detectives are following leads in their probe.

“Our intelligence is directing us in a particular way and certainly we are looking to make a breakthrough in what is happening in this space in very short order,” he said.

“Earlier I gave the assurance that heading into the Yuletide Season that Manchester will be a safe place for people to come in and do their business,” added Duncan.

Three people were taken into police custody for processing during the walkthrough in Green Street.

READ: Three shot, one fatally, in Manchester 

– Kasey Williams