The Jamaican police have charged four persons under the new Firearms Act in relation with a shooting during an armed robbery of a supermarket in Manchester which claimed the life of a Chinese businessman and another man.
The identities of the four accused were not revealed by the police due to ongoing investigations.
The disclosure was made by Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson, on Tuesday during his tour of the south-central parish.
The men appeared in the Gun Court and were remanded until February 2, 2023.
Anderson said at least two of the charges fall under the newly enacted Firearms Act, adding that they have been charged for three particular offences — possession, stockpiling, and trafficking of firearms: the latter two fall under the new Firearms Act. The new Act replaced the Firearms Act of 1967.
Anderson further disclosed that inquiries into a suspended Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) officer who was initially detained as a suspect in the Porus supermarket robbery are still underway.
Reports are that around 7:30 p.m., a group of men entered the supermarket and robbed its owner and customers.
The men reportedly fired several shots upon leaving the store.
Jin Sian Ye, one of the supermarket’s proprietors, and Alphanso Cohen were killed during the robbery.
Two males and a woman are among those who were injured.
Police reported that the suspects fled the scene in a Black Toyota Mark X.
The vehicle was later stopped and searched by the police along the Melrose Bypass in the parish.
Three firearms – an AK 47 assault rifle, a pistol, and a revolver were found. The four men were subsequently detained.
