ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — A man who police say was implicated in a recent break-in at a hardware store was fatally shot when he allegedly challenged cops at a bus park in Santa Cruz on Thursday.

Police have so far identified him only by his alias “Bobby”.

A police report said about 12:31 am the man confronted cops at the Maggotty Bus Park in the Santa Cruz town centre.

The report said cops were on patrol duties when they received information that a male suspect was seen in possession of a firearm at the transportation centre. Acting on the information, police went to the location and, upon approaching the suspect, he reportedly engaged cops in a gun battle.

He was subsequently shot and injured. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said a 9mm pistol and eight rounds of ammunition were seized during the incident.

The suspect is believed to have been among a group of thieves who broke into a Santa Cruz-based hardware and stole a safe recently.

Thursday’s incident follows Sunday’s fatal shooting of two men during police operations in Monymusk near Junction and Williamsfield in St Elizabeth.

READ: Two men fatally shot by police in St Elizabeth

— Kasey Williams