ST JAMES, Jamaica – The police in St James are said to be following strong leads into the death of 24-year-old vendor, Akeem Robinson, who was shot and killed on Thursday afternoon on Fustic Road in Montego Bay.

Robinson, who hailed from Burnt Savannah in St Elizabeth, was shot and killed by an unknown assailant.

Reports from the Montego Bay police are that about 2:45 pm, Robinson was sitting on the roadway when he was pounced upon by a man who pointed a gun at him.

A struggle ensued between both men, during which Robinson was shot in the head. The gunman then made good his escape on a motorcycle.

The police were quickly summoned and Robinson taken to hospital where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

His death comes just hours after a second state of public emergency (SOE) was announced in the parish of St James to deal with the crime situation in the parish.

READ: SOEs declared for Hanover, St James, St Catherine, and Clarendon

St James remains the parish with the most murders recorded since the start of the year.