PORTLAND, Jamaica – The number of people murdered in Portland since the start of the year jumped to 11 as two murders were recorded between Friday night and Sunday morning.

On Friday, September 1 about 8:15 pm in Spring Bank in the parish, a 26-year-old construction worker, Meshach Hill, otherwise called ‘Toto’ was stabbed during a dispute at a shop in the area. He was allegedly stabbed by a 15-year-old boy. Hill was taken to the Port Antonio Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The teen has been taken into custody.

Then, early Sunday morning in the Spring Hill district in Buff Bay Valley, a 28-year-old chef was killed. He has been identified as Ricardo Williams of University Road in St Andrew.

Reports are that about 12:15 am Williams was at home when two men opened a window to his bedroom and fired shots at him. He reportedly ran from the house and was later found bleeding. He was taken to the Annotto Bay Hospital by police and was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police investigation continues.

– Everard Owen