WATCH: Suspect in Rockfort shooting killed by police
KINGSTON, Jamaica— At least one person who was allegedly involved in Monday evening’s fatal shooting in Rockfort, Kingston, has been shot and killed by police.
According to Superintendent of Police in charge of the Kingston Eastern Division, Tommie-Lee Chambers, a team of officers, based on information received, carried out an operation on Rusden Road in the community Tuesday morning.
She disclosed that during the operation, one person was shot and killed and a firearm was seized. The identity of the suspect was not revealed.
“What is happening here is not something that we are accustomed to in the Kingston Eastern Division and we are not going to sit back and relax and allow any more of this to take place,” Superintendent Chambers said.
She was joined by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang during a visit to the Pleasant Heights and Oliver Road sections of Rockfort, following the mass shooting at a football match which left five people dead and two injured.
READ: 5 killed in Rockfort mass shooting
It is reported that members of the community had come together for a friendly football competition when tragedy struck.
“[Community members] come together to have a friendly football competition. At the end of the competition, Base 1 team, they won the first prize. So they were here awaiting their first prize, however, they saw it fit to have a spelling bee competition and also a bun eating contest.”
“While there, having fun, a group of men walked up in the crowd and opened gunfire at some of the patrons hitting seven persons, five succumbed and two remain in hospital, not serious,” Superintendent Chambers said.
A 48-hour curfew has been imposed in Rockfort, following the fatal shooting.
READ: Curfew imposed in Rockfort after mass killing
“After discussions with Acting Deputy Commissioner Warren Clarke, I immediately authorised a curfew for the area, which is 48 hours and the police took steps to close down the area and ensure that there was no-one stepping out until they could operationalise their team and find whatever intelligence they could find and seek to identify the perpetrators,” Minister Chang said.
He added that the police have already identified the suspects in the shooting and are “pursuing them as aggressively as they can”.
Dr Chang added that should the police see a need to extend the curfew, he has authority to do so. He went on to extend condolences to the families affected by the shooting, while condemning the heinous act.
“If the curfew will be needed for a longer period, I have the authority to extend it and I will so do on the request of the commanding officer for this area.”
“We extend our sympathy to the families who were affected but we will pursue the perpetrators relentlessly and apprehend them and ensure this kind of thing will not repeat itself in this area or anywhere else,” Dr Chang said.