Technician facing firearm charges

A St Catherine technician has been slapped with firearms charges following an incident in a bar in the parish on February 17.

Mark Chen, 40, of New Harbour Village, Old Harbour, was arrested and charged with wounding with intent, making use of a firearm to commit a felony, and breaches of the terms and conditions of a firearm authorisation. Reports from the Old Harbour police are that about 9 p.m., Chen, who is a licensed firearm holder, got into an argument with a man at a bar. Chen allegedly brandished his firearm, held the man by his throat and opened gunfire, hitting the man in his face. The man was assisted to hospital where he was treated.

Chen later turned himself in and his firearm, a Sig Sauer pistol with a magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition was seized. He was charged after a question-and-answer interview in the presence of his lawyer. His court date is being finalised.