Two men fatally shot by police in Portmore

Two men were shot and killed by the police in Watson Grove, Portmore, St Catherine on Tuesday, and an illegal gun was seized.

The deceased have been identified by the police as 26-year-old Javaughn Newell of Tarus Drive, Watson Grove, and a man known by the alias ‘Brandon’ of an area called Gulf in Gregory Park, Portmore.

The police report that about 5:20 a.m., an intelligence-driven operation was conducted at Tarus Road in Watson Grove, Gregory Park.

They say the team entered a yard, approached a one-room concrete dwelling and observed that one of its doors was ajar.

According to the police, two men were observed on a bed, and the team shouted, ‘Police’.

The police say the men moved to a corner, and one picked up a gun and pointed it at the cops.

The police took defensive action and fired in the man's direction, during which he was injured.

According to the police, the second man picked up the same gun and was also shot and injured by the police.

When retrieved, the firearm was identified as a Smith & Wesson pistol affixed with a magazine containing six rounds of .40-calibre ammunition, the police reported.

Both injured men were assisted to Spanish Town Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

The Independent Commission of Investigations has since launched a probe into the matter.

- Rasbert Turner

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