Three killed in Tryall Heights shoot-out

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Christopher Phillips has urged wanted men and persons of interest to surrender peacefully and not to engage members of the security forces in firefights.

The senior policeman made the appeal yesterday following the shooting death of three men by members of the security forces in Tryall Heights, St Catherine, earlier in the morning.

"We prefer that they surrender peacefully and we are appealing for that. That is why we go ahead and publish these persons' names on wanted lists. We are also appealing to family members to encourage them to turn themselves in to the police," Phillips said.

The police said that about 5:30 a.m., a police-military team went to Tryall Heights area to undertaken an operation at a premise when they reportedly came under gunfire. The fire was returned and three men were shot and were later taken to the Spanish Town Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

A policeman was also shot and injured in the incident.

Head of the Constabulary Communication Unit, Stephanie Lindsay, said two illegal firearms and a quantity of ammunition were seized at the scene.

One of the men killed in yesterday's incident, Zimoy Geddes, also called 'Zim', was recently featured on the St Catherine police most wanted list. Phillips said Zim was aligned to the Spanish Town-based One Order gang, and operated mainly in the Homestead community. He was wanted for murders and shootings.

The other two persons killed in yesterday's operation were not identified at press time.