MONTEGO BAY, St James - Two brothers, one of whom was recently released from prison, were gunned down by unknown attackers at one of the siblings home in the tough Green Pond community Wednesday night, leaving community members in shock and despair.

The police have identified the brothers as 35-year-old mason Richard Beckford of Capital Heights, Green Pond, St James and 33-year-old ex-convict Easton Beckford.

Wednesday's double murder has pushed the number of homicides recorded in the St James Police Division to six, all between Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Police reports are that on Wednesday night at about 10:00, residents heard explosions coming from a section of the community where the mason resides.

Yesterday morning at about 6:00, residents found the bullet-riddled bodies of the two, in separate sections of the house.
The police believe that the brothers were killed as an act of reprisal for crimes allegedly committed by the younger sibling, Easton, who had reportedly gone to visit Richard.

The cops also said that on a previous occassion, armed men had kicked in the door to the house in search of the ex-con.
The residents described Richard as a "hard working and outstanding member of the community, who was very helpful".

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