Teen, two seniors shot during wake in Waterford, St Catherine

Gunfire shattered the solemn mood of a wake in Waterford, Portmore, on Sunday night, leaving three people nursing gunshot wounds after masked attackers struck from a rooftop.

The shooting began on the roof of a premises along Elmor Way and continued along Canewood Road.

The injured victims are an 18-year-old, a 75-year-old man, and a 73-year-old woman.

Reports are that shortly before 8:00 p.m., the 18-year-old, who investigators believe was the target of the attack, was sitting on his roof with another male when masked gunmen approached and opened fire.

The 18-year-old ran and jumped from the roof.

During the shooting, the two seniors were hit, one in the head and the other on the arm.

A fourth person was injured in the melee, however, not by a bullet.

All four were rushed to hospital, where they are being treated.

Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Eastern, Robert Miller, visited the area, where he told The STAR that the injured persons are known to him and his presence was to reassure residents that their safety is paramount.

"We want to ensure that peace reigns in this community. There is no place for it [crime and violence] in South East St Catherine. [The] counsellor and I are doing everything in our powers to ensure that this space remains peaceful as best as possible. There is no place for criminals and heinous crime, there is no haven here for them," Miller told The Gleaner.

The Portmore Criminal Investigation Branch is probing the incident.

As of August 9, the St Catherine South Police Division has recorded 35 murders.

This represents a 39 per cent reduction year-on-year.

At this point last year, 57 homicides were committed.

- Andre Williams

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