Noelita Lawrence – Staff Reporter
The country’s murder tally continues to climb as the bloody rampage rocking the parish of Westmoreland continued, with gunmen snuffing out the lives of two men in two separate incidents in the parish between Sunday night and Monday morning. Two men were also shot and wounded.
The two men killed have been identified as 22-year-old Don-High Whittle, otherwise known as ‘Bimmer’, unemployed of Bonito Crescent, Whitehall, in the parish and 30-year-old George Thomas, also known as ‘Max’, a labourer of a Beckford Street Address in St. Thomas.
In the killing on Sunday, Whittle and another man were shot.
Reports obtained by the Western Mirror revealed that on Sunday night, July 8, just minutes after 10 p.m., Whittle and another man were standing at a gate when a car drove up, slowed down and the occupants opened fire, hitting both in the upper body.
The men were taken to the Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital where Whittle died while undergoing treatment, and the other man was treated and admitted in stable condition.
The police recovered Four 9 mm spent casings from the scene.
No motive has been established for the killings and investigations are ongoing.
HOTEL ROOM KILLING
Approximately three hours later, around 1:10 a.m. Monday, a hotel room was the scene of a fatal shooting.
In that instance, 30-year-old George Thomas, also known as ‘Max’ was gunned down at a hotel.
Reports gleaned by the Western Mirror indicate that Thomas and a female companion were in a hotel room when the door was kicked open by a lone gunman.
The armed thug opened fire, hitting Thomas several times. The woman escaped unhurt.
Warheads and nine 9 mm cartridges were later removed from the scene by detectives.
WOUNDING WITH INTENT
Meanwhile, another shooting also rocked a section of the parish, this time in Georges Plain.
The incident took place about 10:10 p.m., also on Monday, when a man was shot and wounded.
Reports are that the man driving a 1996 Toyota motorcar was travelling along the Intent Hartfield housing scheme when a gunman pointed a gun at the vehicle and ordered the driver to stop.
He refused and while attempting to speed away was shot in the right palm.
He was taken to the hospital where he was treated.
Police say they are yet to find a motive for the shooting, but will be questioning the injured man as soon as possible.