Foreigner among two men killed in bar

A visitor to Jamaica and another man were shot and killed at a bar along Cameron Lane, St Andrew, yesterday in what is being theorised as a targeted robbery.

A third man was injured in the attack, which happened around 3 p.m. Despite the brazen nature of the shooting, residents in the area showed little reaction, with many more concerned about authorities getting the location of incident correct in fear of further curfew restrictions. The incident occurred despite a 48-hour curfew in surrounding areas, including sections of Whitehall Avenue and Mannings Hill Road.

The Cameron Lane area has seen multiple killings over the years, and Wednesday's attack was no exception.

According to eyewitnesses, three gunmen stormed the bar and demanded a bag from the foreigner before opening fire.

"Unno get the bag? Weh di bag?" the attackers reportedly shouted before grabbing the item and fleeing the scene. The foreign national, who had been in the area for some time, was frequently seen driving different vehicles, including high-end ones.

"From wah day him come down and mi see him bout di place and him a driver a Bimmer," a bystander said, speculating that he may have been targeted. The other deceased, identified only as 'Lance', was a taxi operator who was also inside the bar. The injured man, who was allegedly dropping off his daughter nearby, was shot in the hand and taken to the hospital. Although many in the area remained silent, there are rumours that at least two of the three gunmen are known in the community.

Various places of entertainment within the division have seen their share of violence. For example, in 2020, a teenager was murdered nearby the bar, just weeks before he was set to leave Jamaica. Residents, accustomed to the cycle of crime, expressed little surprise at yet another deadly shooting.

"Dat deh bar nah open back," one woman said. The St Andrew North police are investigating.