St James bleeds as 11 murdered in six days

Several communities in St James are now on edge following 11 murders in six days.

Between Saturday night and early Sunday, five men, four of whom still remain unidentified, were killed in two separate incidents in Greenwood and Mount Zion. One of the deceased has been identified as Marchell Hyatt, 42, shop operator of Tortuga in Greenwood. Another man known only as 'Likkle Man', and three young men believed to be in their early 20s were also killed.

Saturday's triple killing took place about 10 p.m., when residents of Mount Zion stumbled upon the bodies of the three unidentified men, lying in pools of blood along a section of the roadway. The police were summoned and upon arrival, it was discovered that the men had been shot multiple times and died on the spot. Investigators also pointed out that none of the victims had any form of identification.

Councillor for the Rose Hall Division in the St James Municipal Corporation, Anthony Murray, said Mount Zion is not known for violent crimes.

"Well to be frank with you, the Rose Hall Division has been very calm in recent times as it relates to murders. News of three murders in the community is of great concern to me because we have been having relatively peace and quiet in area," Murray said.

The St James police have appealed to the public for assistance in identifying the men, all of whom are of dark complexion, and about five feet, five inches tall.

Prior to the triple murder, Hyatt and 'Likkle Man' were at his shop about 1 a.m., when a man posing as a customer entered the establishment and ordered a drink. He was being served, when he brandished a handgun and opened fire hitting both men multiple times before fleeing. The police were summoned and upon arrival, the scene was processed and the bodies transported to the morgue for post-mortem.