Police sergeant succumbs to injuries from gun attack

A police sergeant who was shot and injured at his home in Portmore, St Catherine, on Thursday night succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning.

Sergeant Patrick Mahoney, 54, was attached to the Spanish Town Police Station.

He had just arrived at his home about 9:50 p.m. when he was pounced upon by masked men as he exited his vehicle. The men reportedly fired shots, hitting the policeman several times.

Head of the St Catherine North police division, Superintendent Hopton Nicholson, says grief counselling has been sought for the sergeant's colleagues.

"The Sergeant was always punctual and would complete any task given. He is sadly missed and condolences to his family and colleagues," Nicholson said.

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In the meantime, Nicholson said the police will not be daunted in their pursuit of criminals.

"We remain relentless in the fight against crime, as we lost three in three weeks, but the first by violence," Nicholson said.

He was speaking at a media briefing in Spanish Town on Monday.

It was revealed that so far the police in the St Catherine North division have seized 51 illegal guns along with 526 rounds of assorted ammunition  since the start of the year.

- Rasbert Turner