WESTMORELAND, Jamaica— The man who was fatally shot by the police on Thursday morning, is said to have been wanted in connection with last Thursday night’s murder of Chantal Hunter, a 28-year-old shop owner of Dalling Street, Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

Hunter was reportedly shot in the face while she attended a candlelight vigil in the community.

Read: Westmoreland shop owner killed at candlelight vigil

The wanted man who was shot and killed by the police has been identified as 25-year-old Jaevon Brown, otherwise called ‘Tata’ of a Dalling Street address in Westmoreland.

READ: Man wanted for murder in Westmoreland killed by police

Head of the Westmoreland Police, Senior Superintendent Wayne Josephs told OBSERVER ONLINE that Brown challenged the police this morning.

SSP Josephs said as part of the intensified Operation Relentless ll, the police went in search of Brown in Dalling Street, Savanna-la-Mar.

“On their arrival at a one bedroom board house, they were greeted with gunfire from Brown. The police responded and at the end of the exchange, Brown was found suffering from a gunshot wound,” SSP Josephs revealed.

He added that a 9mm pistol was also seized.

Brown, he said, was later pronounced dead at hospital.

Meanwhile, SSP Josephs said he has a warning for other criminals.

“I just want to use this opportunity to send out a warning to other criminal gunmen out there that if the police come to arrest you, I would encourage you to hand over yourself, peacefully,” the lawman urged.

SSP Josephs further noted that if criminals choose to do otherwise and to challenge the police, they [the police] cannot guarantee their safety.

“The police have a duty to preserve life and this includes the life of their own as also to the members of the public,” SSP Josephs warned.

“We will continue Operation Relentless ll, and it has been bearing fruits,” he added.

Launched on September 23, the operation targets criminal gangs, illicit guns, narcotics trade, and lottery scams. The series of targeted activities have been the subject of weeks of data and intelligence analysis and planning within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), and also joint planning with the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF).