WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — A man was shot and injured at his gate in Belle Isle Road, Grange Hill, Westmoreland on Wednesday, June 29.

According to the police, at about 8:30 pm, the man was sitting on the front perimeter wall at his yard when a motorcycle rode up with two men aboard.

The pillion got off the bike, brandished a firearm and opened fire at the man who ran.

The men then escaped on the motorcycle in the direction of the Grange Hill Health Center.

When the shooting subsided, the man discovered that he had received a gunshot wound to his chest.

The injured man was assisted to the Savanna-La-Mar Public General Hospital by residents where he was treated and admitted in a serious condition, the police report.

The police told OBSERVER ONLINE that there has been an increase in criminal activities in the Grange Hill area of recent. They are also investigating to determine if Wednesday night’s shooting incident is connected to the murder of Oshane Hamilton.

Hamilton was shot and killed by men on a motorcycle on Mint Road in Grange Hill the night before.

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According to statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, there has been a 39.2 per cent increase in murders in Westmoreland since the start of the year. As of June 26, there were 71 murders recorded when compared to 51 murders that were committed during the corresponding period last year.