AS SPANISH TOWN burned and anarchy reigned on Wednesday, following the fatal shooting of 'One Order' gang leader Andrew 'Bun Man' Hope, an act of heroism by a four-man police team, led to the rescue of a wounded officer and a civilian.
Both men were trapped on the premises of the old courthouse, which had come under attack from a mob and gunmen upset over Hope's death.
Hope was shot and killed by gunmen along Ellis Street, near the Spanish Town High School, at about 2:30 p.m., setting off a riot in the Old Capital.
Angry residents of Tawes Pen and Ellerslie Pen blocked adjoining roads and set fire to the old courthouse at the corner of Young and Wellington streets.
A police team, led by crime chief Everald Smith, escorted the fire truck through the chaos to the premises which houses the civil and night court, among other facilities.
While attempting to put out the blaze, the firefighters and accompanying police team came under heavy gunfire in addition to rocks being hurled at them by the mob.
The unit had to abandon its task but Smith called for reinforcement and braved sporadic gunfire to again reach the building, where they found a wounded police officer and the civilian.
Police confirmed Wednesday night that Uriah Matthews, 65, caretaker for the court's premises was shot several times and then thrown into the fire. Matthews operated a business on the premises.
However, police sources said had they retreated permanently, the casualties would have been greater.
Some seven motor vehicles parked on the compound of the old courthouse were also set ablaze.
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