KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man said to be a high-ranking gang member was shot dead by police on St Patrick Road in Rockfort, East Kingston, on Wednesday morning.

The deceased, identified as 41-year-old Patrick ‘Tiger’ Thompson from the community, was reportedly killed after he reportedly pointed a firearm at the police.

Reports are that around 5:40 am, the police were in the community conducting an intelligence-led operation in search of firearms.

Upon entering a premises, they surprised Thompson, who was reportedly armed with a firearm. The police said Thompson pointed the weapon at them and, in a bid to avoid being shot, they opened fire at him.

He fell to the ground, and the firearm, a shotgun with four cartridges, was retrieved from him.

Police assisted Thompson to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), where doctors pronounced him dead.

Police said intelligence indicated that Thompson was a high-ranking member of the Gaza and Harbour gangs, which operate in Rockfort.

He was previously convicted for shooting and malicious destruction of government property after opening fire on a police patrol vehicle in the community in 2010.

Thompson was released from the Tower Street Adult Correctional Center (GP) last August. Since his release, the police said, he has been implicated in a stolen motor vehicle ring.

The police said it was reported that Thompson was seen on several occasions armed with firearms on St Patrick Road, among a group of young males from the community.