KINGSTON, Jamaica — Law enforcement authorities have issued an update for motorists traveling across the island’s major transport corridor: the westbound lane of Mandela Highway, a key route connecting the capital to the populous municipalities of Spanish Town and Portmore, is now open to traffic again. The stretch had been closed off for forensic investigation and processing after a deadly shooting that left one man dead and a second person wounded.
The violent attack unfolded shortly after 7:15 a.m. on Friday, at the busy Caymanas intersection along the westbound corridor. According to initial police accounts, a Ford Transit work truck was moving through the junction when the driver pulled to a stop. That was when two armed suspects riding a motorcycle pulled alongside the right side of the vehicle, and fired multiple rounds through the truck’s right front window and windshield.
Both people inside the vehicle were hit by gunfire. Emergency responders rushed the injured pair to a local hospital for urgent care, but one of the occupants was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The second victim remains hospitalized for treatment of their injuries, as of the latest update.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, police cordoned off the entire westbound lane to preserve the crime scene and allow investigators to collect evidence. The closure caused significant traffic disruptions for commuters traveling between Kingston and the heavily populated St. Catherine parishes, where both Spanish Town and Portmore are located. With the investigation’s on-site processing complete, authorities have confirmed the lane is once again accessible for regular traffic.