BY GEORGE HENRY, STAR WRITER
spaldings, clarendon
THE DRIVER OF a Mitsubishi delivery truck, and a sideman, narrowly escaped being killed Friday evening when the vehicle in which they were travelling was shot up by gunmen at Alston in North West Clarendon.
According to investigating officer for the incident, Detective Corporal Martin Morgan of the Spaldings Police Station, at 8:20 p.m., a white Mitsubishi delivery truck was travelling from Cave Valley, St. Ann, to Spaldings. When they got to a section of the Alston main road, the vehicle's path was blocked by a Mitsubishi motorcar with men aboard. Morgan stated that the truck did not stop and continued on its way towards Spaldings. While driving, the men started firing several gunshots in the truck.
Shots entered through both the driver's door and the door on the passenger side of the vehicle hitting both men. The two, despite their injuries were able to drive to the Percy Junor Hospital where they were treated for injuries to the hands. The sideman was treated and sent home, while the driver who was said to be seriously injured was admitted in a stable condition.
ROBBERY MOTIVE
The Spaldings police said robbery was the reason for the shooting. Detective Corporal Morgan said the police will be continuing their investigations.
Friday's incident is the first shooting to take place at Alston since 2001 when a woman was shot and killed by gunmen at almost the same spot where the latest incident took place. The 2001 shooting sparked a series of occurrences including the stoning of Spaldings Police Station by residents.
The stoning took place when residents got wind that the men responsible for the death of the woman were held by the police. They went to the station and demanded the police release the men for them to carry out 'justice'.
When their demand was not met, they started stoning the facility, badly damaging several windows and doors and injuring police personnel. The police had to fire several shots, one of which hit a 14-year-old boy killing him. A cameraman was also shot and injured in the incident.
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