Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Spanish Town, St. Catherine:

The Central Village police are searching for a man who was dressed in school uniform when he shot and injured a labourer in the Big Lane community yesterday morning.

Police reports are that Prince Francis, otherwise called 'Stocky', was walking in the area when he was approached by a man who was dressed in a khaki uniform with epaulettes similar to those of a prominent high school in St Catherine.

The man, who also had a knapsack on his back, engaged Francis in an argument, after which he brandished a handgun and fired several shots.

Francis was hit in the abdomen and was taken to hospital where he was admitted in serious but stable condition.

The police, like residents, claimed that in recent times there has been tension in the area following the killing of a don, known as 'Poison', from the Compound community.

Under constant threat

Residents added that they felt they were under constant threat of being shot on sight.

"Bwoy, we caan walk pon the road, dem seh dem a come fi we and anyway dem see we them ago come fi we," remarked one woman.

Deputy Superintendent Clive Blair, operations officer for St. Catherine South, of which Central Village is a part, said the police would be continuing their efforts to deal with the problem as they had no intention of allowing lawlessness to take over the community.