MONTEGOBAY, St James - The Montego Bay police last night killed an allegedkidnapper and arrested three others, following a shootout at the homeof two retired civil servants in the usually busy Irwin area in StJames.

Up to press time the dead man remained unidentified, but police believe that he was in his early 20s.

The police said that they gotinformation yesterday morning that the retired civil servants -believed to be in their 70s - were being held hostage at the housesince Tuesday.

According to AssistantCommissioner of Police (ACP) Denver Frater, about 12:30 pm yesterdaythe police cordoned the area around the premises, and closed in on thegunmen.
"The police were greeted with gunfire and they engaged the gunmen," ACP Frater told the Observer.

An intrateck submachine gun and 12 rounds of 9mm cartridges were recovered from the scene of the shooting, the police said.

A resident who lived in the areatold the Observer yesterday that he was unaware of what was happeningat the house, until after the shooting subsided.

"Mi just see the whole heap a police dem and then mi hear blow, blow, blow," said a deadlocked man.

According to Frater, the couplewas not hurt, but was robbed of J$50,000 and US$1,000 in cash, as wellas jewellery and household items by the kidnappers.

He said both were being counselled by the Victim Support Unit and the Chaplaincy Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

ACP Frater commended the policeparty on the professional manner in which they carried out theoperation. "I wish to commend the men on a job well done. They carriedout the operation without any loss of innocent life," he said.