Security guard shot dead in Portmore, while a taxi operator sustained injuries

Kingston, Jamaica: Gunmen in Portmore, St Catherine, shot a security guard, leaving hospitalised a taxi operator on Wednesday night. The police officials have informed that the gunmen posed as passengers to eliminate their targets. 

The deceased man has been identified as – Courtney Henry, who was probably in his 50s. 

What happened on Wednesday night: 

The taxi operator, who handles the Portmore Mall to Gregory Park route, picked up Henry and two other men on Wednesday night. 

During the journey, one of the men allegedly drew a firearm and signalled to the taxi operator to stop the vehicle. He promptly complied with those instructions.  

Henry, however, engaged one of the armed men, and a skirmish ensued, during which he was brutally shot. During the incident, the taxi operator also suffered injuries. 

The police report further states that the gunmen drove away from the vehicle, but the vehicle at a distance suffered mechanical challenges, which forced the gunmen to flee on foot.  

Further, no more information has been provided by the police authorities. There is also not any update on the situation of the injured taxi operator, who at present is in the hospital facility. 

There is a steady increase in such shooting and murder cases on the island, for which the Jamaican government a few days back announced a state of emergency in the regions of Western Parishes and sections of the Corporate Area, which came into effect from Sunday. 

Following the hike in the crime rate, a fear is engraving in people’s minds.