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Six people were shot last night on 77 Lane in Waltham Park Road, St Andrew, sending shock waves through the already troubled inner-city community.

Police sources confirmed that at least five of the six victims died. The brazen attack has left residents in fear, as the area, plagued by violence, reels from yet another brutal chapter in Jamaica's ongoing crime crisis. Police sources say the incident occurred about 7:45. Patrons were at a bar in the area when they were attacked and shot by hoodlums. One of the victims had just exited a food establishment when he and other persons were shot. THE STAR understands that the area where the attack took place is considered relatively safe. It was unclear at press time who was responsible for the attack and the reason for the cowardly act. The incident led the police to shut down traffic along sections of Waltham Park Road and Bay Farm Road in Kingston 11 to facilitate the necessary investigation by the lawmen. There was an eerie silence in the area as lawmen processed the crime scene. Only a few residents ventured beyond their gates.

Jamaica has been shaken by a disturbing surge in mass shootings over the past few months, leaving communities in fear and mourning. In a brutal attack in August, eight people were gunned down at Cherry Tree Lane near Four Paths, Clarendon. The bloodshed didn't end there - on National Heroes Day, five men were tragically killed in a mass shooting at a football match in Pleasant Heights, Rockfort, Kingston, further amplifying concerns over rising violence. Earlier this month, another devastating shooting unfolded on Bowens Road in St Andrew, where gunmen opened fire on a crowd, hitting eight people, three fatally, in a matter of minutes.

The frequency and brutality of these attacks have left the nation grappling with a growing sense of insecurity, as authorities scramble to address the escalating violence. Since the start of the year, more than 1,040 persons have been murdered on the island. Police data revealed that 44 persons were murdered last week, making it the bloodiest seven-day period in 2024.