Injured suspect held after deadly Linstead gun battle
Published:Wednesday | October 22, 2025 | 12:08 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
A manhunt launched by the security forces to apprehend two men who escaped during a fierce gun battle in Linstead, St Catherine, Monday night, has resulted in the capture of one of the fugitives believed to have fired at the police during the exchange.
The incident stemmed from a confrontation about 10:30 p.m. between the police and five men travelling in a white Toyota Axio motor car along the Linstead bypass. During the shoot-out, three of the men were fatally shot while the two others managed to flee the scene.
Two members of the police party were also shot and wounded in the exchange of gunfire. One remained in hospital in stable condition last night while the other was treated and released.
A firearm was reportedly recovered from the scene.
Reports reaching The Gleaner are that the captured man was apprehended early Tuesday morning during a targeted police operation that covered wooded areas along the train line in Linstead. According to a police source, the man was nursing a gunshot wound to one of his legs at the time of his capture.
“The man was found hiding in the bushes near the train line. He appeared to have been injured during the exchange of gunfire [Monday] night,” the source revealed.
The police have not yet released further details about the circumstances surrounding his capture or the identity of the suspect. Meanwhile, the search continues for the second fugitive who remains on the run.
MEN UNIDENTIFIED
The three men who were killed during the shoot-out remain unidentified up to press time. However, investigators believe that the group may be linked to a criminal network operating in Ocho Rios, in St Ann, St Catherine, and surrounding areas.
According to sources, the men are suspected to be from the Bog Walk and Riversdale areas of St Catherine and are believed to have been involved in a series of robberies and other criminal activities.
Police investigators are still probing the incident to determine the group’s intent on the night of the confrontation. It is understood that the vehicle had just exited the toll road when the men reportedly opened fire on police personnel who attempted to intercept them.
The security forces have intensified patrols in the Linstead and Bog Walk areas as the search for the remaining suspect continues.