The police hierarchy in Area One has launched a top-level probe into last Friday’s gun attack on a Trelawny businesswoman resulting in her death and that of one of her alleged attackers.
The dead businesswoman is 50-year-old Jacqueline-Cargill Gardener of Florence Hall, Trelawny and 31-year-old Phillip Desmond Grinion, otherwise called ‘Blacks’ or ‘Stocky’ of Falmouth Street. He was shot and killed by a licensed firearm holder. A gun and several rounds of ammunition were also seized by the police.
Information received by the Western Mirror indicates that about 4:25 p.m. on Friday, Cargill-Gardener was at her business place along Foreshore Road, when she was approached by three men, two armed with guns.
One of the men reportedly opened gunfire at her, hitting her all over her body. A licensed firearm holder, who was close by, challenged the gunmen who tried to escape into a nearby swamp.
The police were called and during search of the area, two men were found suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the men was found clutching a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol with a magazine containing three 9mm rounds of ammunition. The weapon and ammunition were seized.
The men were taken to hospital where Grinion was pronounced dead, while the other, said to be of a Tower Hill, St. James address, was admitted to hospital under police guard.
Meanwhile, a third man listed in connection with Cargill-Gardener’s death, turned himself to the Ulster Spring Police on Monday in the presence of a Minister of Religion.
Cargill-Gardener’s death brings the murder tally in the parish close to thirty since the start of the year, when compared with 21 for the same period last year.