Two firearms seized in fatal Old Harbour shooting, deceased identified

In a statement released this afternoon, the JCF said the incident occurred about 6:45 p.m. along Darlington Drive in Old Harbour, St Catherine. The police statement comes after initial reports from the scene by Old Harbour News last evening.

According to the JCF, a team from its Specialized Operations branch was conducting a targeted operation in the Old Harbour area, following intelligence about a vehicle involved in the movement of illegal firearms. The vehicle was reportedly located on Darlington Drive, and officers signalled the driver to stop.

The occupant reportedly opened fire at the police before speeding away. A pursuit ensued, and the vehicle stopped a short distance away. As officers approached, they again came under gunfire. The officers returned fire, after which the vehicle sped off, crashed into an embankment, and overturned in the vicinity of the Claremont Drive, Bannister road intersection.

The driver was taken to May Pen Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He has been identified as 27-year-old Shane Clarke, otherwise called ‘Giant’, of Berrydale, Porus, Manchester.

Police say a .380 pistol containing one round of ammunition and an AK-47-type rifle with an empty magazine were recovered from the scene. No police officer was injured, though a police service vehicle sustained gunshot damage.

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has been notified and has launched its own probe into the incident.

The police statement revealed that Clarke was linked to a number of serious crimes across several parishes. He was a person of interest in investigations concerning armed robberies targeting cash-in-transit operations and financial institutions, as well as several murders and shootings.

Old Harbour News managed to obtain a photo of Clarke which has been verified by a senior officer, who noted that the now deceased was known to frequent areas such as Bullet Tree, Bartons and Salt River in Clarendon. 

Among the incidents to which he had been linked, the JCF stated, are:

• The May 2026 murder of Dave McGregor in Clarendon.
• A July 2024 shooting and attempted robbery involving police personnel and a Beryllium security officer in Negril, Westmoreland.
• The April 2023 robbery of the Jamaica National Bank in Mandeville, Manchester, where approximately $8.5 million was stolen.
• The October 2023 double murder of Walton Pusey and Sylvester Leslie in St Andrew.
• The October 2023 shooting of Niko Malcolm in Waltham Park, Kingston.
• The December 2022 double murder of Jin Xian Ye, otherwise called ‘Leo’, and Alphanso Cohen during an attempted robbery in Porus, Manchester.

The dramatic scene last evening unfolded near the Claremont Drive and Bannister Road intersection, an area that was quickly cordoned off by a heavy contingent of police officers. A white Mercedes GLE sports utility vehicle (SUV) was observed overturned along the roadway. A temporary licence plate was noticeably affixed to the vehicle. 

The extensive police cordon forced motorists to seek alternate routes via Claremont Drive and the Claremont Housing Scheme, causing significant traffic delays.

Residents in the surrounding communities expressed shock, with several gathering at a distance to observe the police activity after hearing what one resident described as a “barrage” of gunshots.

Initial reports from Old Harbour News last evening suggested that two other men may have been fatally shot and another escaped. However, the JCF’s subsequent statement this morning did not confirm any additional fatalities or an escaped suspect. DSP Romario Rankin, commander of the Old Harbour police subdivision, had earlier offered a measured response, confirming a fatality, noting an active investigation was ongoing.

Police are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward as investigations continue.