Two gunmen killed in St James ... High powered rifles seized

The Area One police on Thursday night fatally shot two unidentified gunmen and seized two high powered rifles.

One senior officer said that the operation was aimed at clamping down on gunmen and getting the illegal guns.

"The police have reaped success and this is just one of many operations aimed at getting the criminals and the illegal guns," the lawman said. "Retirement is one of the areas in the Granville policing area which has being targeted by gunmen over the recent years. We went to the area and the team was successful in seizing two more high powered rifles after the two unidentified men were fatally shot. "

Reports by the Freeport Police are that shortly after 9:30 p.m., a joint police/military team carried out an operation at a section of Retirement.

During the operation, the lawmen saw a group of men at a location and approached them.

Upon seeing the lawmen, the men opened fire on the team and challenged them in a shoot-out.

The fire was returned and during the heated gun battle, two of the men were shot and killed. The others escaped.

A search of the area led to the seizure of two assault rifles and several rounds of 5.56 rounds of ammunition.

A team attached to the Independent Commission of Investigations visited the scene, and are now carrying out investigations.

Since the start of the year seven gunmen have fatally shot in the parish of St. James, and 42 illegal weapons seized.