WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Seven people were shot, leaving one man dead during a party Sunday morning in Bridgewater district, Westmoreland, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has revealed.

Deceased is 38-year-old Lashlaroo Shaw otherwise called Peh, Worm and Lenky, of Belfont, St James.

Commanding Officer for Westmorland, Senior Superintendent Wayne Joseph said the incident occurred around 9:00 am.

“Information is that there was an unpermitted party the night before leading into this morning and persons were in the process of cleaning up after the party when a white Toyota Axio motor car drove up. Three men alighted with hand guns and opened fire. Persons received injuries and ran in various directions, one person succumbed to his injuries on the scene,” SPP Joseph said.

SSP Joseph added that the six injured persons were quickly transported to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where five were treated and admitted in stable condition and the sixth person was treated and admitted in a critical condition.

“I just want to take the opportunity to send the message to persons who are out there who are keeping these unpermitted parties, that we will be coming at you with the full force of the law,” he warned.

“There is a reason why we do not permit some parties because we have to do security checks and risk assessment and these are in order to protect the lives of innocent persons who might be going to these parties unknowing of the danger that might loom over them. So it depends on who is keeping the parties, sometimes some of these persons we know that they are not of good character. Sometimes they are involved with other persons with on-going feuds and sometimes there are risks of reprisals,” SSP Joseph said.

He explained that “A lot of times when persons cannot find their opponents these are places where they look out for them – where there are large gatherings at parties and so on.”

SSP Joseph warned sound operators to refrain from playing at unpermitted events.

“If you are a sound operator and you are contracted by somebody keeping a party, make sure you find that person has a permit because you too will be liable to prosecution. We will be going full force to protect the lives of innocent law-abiding persons,” SSP Joseph said.