SOE declared in Rockfort amid deadly mass shooting

The Government has declared a State of Public Emergency (SOE) in the geographical area consisting of Rockfort and other areas within the Kingston East Division arising from the mass shooting in the area.

Five men were killed and two other persons were injured in the attack.

The boundaries of the SOE are defined as follows:

West: On the western side, the boundary extends in a northerly direction from the intersection of Michael Manley Boulevard and South Camp Road, then continues north-easterly along Vineyard Road then on to the end of Diana Drive.

North: The northern boundary extends in an easterly direction from Diana Drive to Lexington Avenue, then on to Deanery Road to the intersection to Mountain View Avenue.  The boundary then extends easterly along an imaginary irregular line to the shared parish border of St Andrew and St Thomas.

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East: The eastern boundary extends in a southerly direction along the shared parish border of St Andrew and St Thomas to the coast.

South: The southern boundary extends westerly along the coast of St Andrew, then along the Kingston coastline to the intersection of South Camp Road and Michael Manley Boulevard.

A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) stated that a thorough assessment by the security forces indicates that the elevated levels of violent criminal activity within the designated areas of such severity and scale that they pose a significant threat to public safety.

“Sunday night's murders in Rockfort have shocked the nation. We have taken decisive steps to safeguard the lives of our citizens and prevent further acts of organised violence. The Government, in close coordination with the security forces, is committed to taking the urgent steps to restore order and ensure the safety of the affected residents,” said Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

“The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. This act of terror in Rockfort is a grave threat to the peace of our nation, and we will not allow criminal elements to destabilise our communities. The security forces have been fully mobilised, and we will use all available resources to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore calm,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang.

OPM says the Government and the security forces will continue to take all necessary actions to protect the safety of residents and restore normalcy in East Kingston.