KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has condemned the shooting and arson attack on Kidd Lane in St Andrew on Friday that left three residents – two women and a child – dead.

The deceased have been identified as 30-year-old Lashane Ellis, her one-year-old son Kaheel Daley, and 39-year-old Kimeisha Gibson.

READ: Two women, infant dead after Kidd Lane fire

It is understood that about 11:30pm, armed men invaded the house occupied by Ellis and her son, opened fire and set the premises ablaze. The gunmen reportedly then turned their weapons on Gibson in the neighbouring house before making their escape.

In a statement on Saturday, Holness called the attack “an assault on the sensibilities of the entire nation, spreading fear through criminal terror.”

He added: “No innocent citizen should have to flee their community because of gangs and organised violence. It is the gunmen who must flee!”

The prime minister said he has instructed Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang to treat the case with intense attention.

“I have no doubt that the perpetrators will be caught and justice will be served!” he said.

Holness also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the fight against criminal elements.

“While we have come a long way in cutting our murder rate in half and cutting the number of active gangs by more than half, there are still organised criminals and violent individuals with guns and the intent to take lives,” Holness said.

“We must not stop or relax our fight against crime, criminals and illegal weapons until they are separated from our society,” he continued. “While we understand that the community is in fear at the moment, this is an opportunity for residents to take back their communities and secure real peace by sharing information on the incident through established protected channels.”