THREE men are dead and another three were battling for life last night following a drive-by shooting on Lincoln Avenue in South St Andrew yesterday.

Police said that Kenardo Hutchinson, Odane Abbot, Morais Harris and their friends were playing a game of dominoes when the gunmen struck. The three died on the spot, while their injured friends were taken to hospital for treatment.

Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams, who visited the scene, said the shooting shows that the criminals will stop at nothing to create mayhem. “It is distressing, it is shocking because this area has been very quiet for over two years.

We were focusing our efforts elsewhere in West Kingston, even though the police have never left this area…We did not expect this incident here today,” he said. He, however, assured the residents that the police would catch up with the perpetrators.

“We are now gathering information and we are confident that we will catch them,” Dr Williams said. Assistant Commissioner of Police Terrence Bent, who was also on the scene, told journalists that the shooting was related to a turf war among gang members.

He said that individuals from the communities of Denham Town, Arnett Gardens, Gem Road, Maxfield Avenue, and Waltham Park are involved in the war. He said that the key players reside overseas.

But he accused the residents of shielding the perpetrators and said that, until they co-operate with the police, the gangs will continue to reign. “The police will have to respond operationally so that the law-abiding residents, the good people in these communities, can be protected,” Bent said.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police Eolan Powell described the situation as unfortunate and said that residents must learn how to better resolve conflicts.