The Tribune

BY LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on bail for murder was shot and killed by his accomplice in the Yellow Elder Gardens community yesterday.

Chief Superintendent of Police Chrislyn Skippings said police were alerted to the shooting shortly after 3pm.

“Information received is that two masked males, both of whom are clad in dark clothing and gloves, were observed running west along Lightbourne Street when one of the men produced a firearm and fired gunshots,” CSP Skippings told reporters on the scene, adding that there was an exchange of gunfire.

She said: “It is believed that during the exchange of gunshots, the deceased was shot by his accomplice who fled the area running west along Lightbourne Street.”

“Police recovered from the scene a magazine for a high-powered weapon.”

She said the victim was in his mid-20s and was on bail for murder.

CSP Skippings could not say why the men were running but said police suspect they were about to commit a crime.

“At this time, we believe but we’re not 100 per cent certain,” she said.

“And once again, we appeal to members of the public and especially the residents of this Yellow Elder community who may have any information that can assist us in bringing a quick resolution to his incident to kindly reach out to the men and women of the Criminal Investigations Department.”

The killing of yet another man on bail highlights the need for criminal trials to be held faster.

Yesterday, CSP Chaswell Hanna referred to some of the RBPF’s crime prevention initiatives with respect to people out on bail.

He said: “So one of the strategies we’re using, not only in the Grove division, but all the other divisions is we are playing closer attention to those persons who are supposed to be signing in and where there are breaches, we are re-arresting them, and taking them before the court with a view to have their bail revoked and that is something specific that we are doing.”

“For the most part, the issues we have with crime is it’s the same group of individuals over and over again so what do we do – we pay visits to them. When we get information that these persons may have firearms or drugs, we execute search warrants. We see them driving around in vehicles acting suspiciously, we pull them over. We do stop and search.”