PORTLAND, Jamaica — An attempted break-in in Hope Bay early Monday morning ended in gunfire and a swift police operation that left one suspect dead and eight people in custody.
According to law enforcement reports, armed men forced entry into a commercial property around 2:30 a.m. The attack was interrupted when a licensed firearm holder confronted the group, triggering an exchange of gunfire that resulted in one of the intruders being shot. He later died while undergoing treatment at the Port Antonio Hospital.
Authorities confirmed that among those taken into custody were two women, believed to be the mother and sister of the deceased man. They were reportedly trying to remove him from the parish following the shooting.
Superintendent Ainsley McCarthy, who heads the Portland police division, emphasized that none of the suspects were from the parish. “These individuals came from Kingston, St Andrew, and St Catherine. Portland remains secure, and criminals should understand that this division will not tolerate lawlessness. If your intentions are not good, Portland is not the place for you,” he warned.
The Hope Bay Police Station, located only a short distance from the incident, was alerted quickly. Residents also played a role in cornering the suspects, noting that the outsiders struggled to navigate the unfamiliar terrain while trying to escape.
“The police did well. Those men never know the place. Dem a run up and down like fools by the seaside. A stranger dem, not from here,” said one local, who preferred not to be named.
The community has been on edge following a recent rise in crime across parts of Portland. Jamaica Constabulary Force data show the parish recorded eight murders so far this year, compared to seven for the same period in 2024. Shootings have also increased, from two last year to six this year.
Residents praised the quick police response but remain cautious as the uptick in criminal activity continues to unsettle the parish.
