The St Andrew Central Police are questioning the suspect in yesterday’s murder of the manager for the Papine market, Colleen Bernard, otherwise called Sonia.
The suspect was shot and wounded by an off duty policeman and is in hospital.
It was initially reported that he had died.
The police say a Taurus pistol, with a magazine containing nine rounds, was taken from him.
Speaking with Radio Jamaica News this morning, Head of Area 4, Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael Phipps, said the constant presence of the police in and around the Papine Market led to the quick apprehension of the shooter.
ACP Phipps says the police believe he was not acting alone.
“We are, at this point, interviewing him with the op of establishing a possible motive for this particular murder, and, of course, we managed to recover his weapon, and we are doing some further investigations, which, of course, includes some examination of forensic material, which we believe will help us to identify the real cause behind this particular murder, and who are the other persons that may be involved.”
It was reported that Ms Bernard was in the process of collecting market fees from shop operators about 3:50 in the afternoon when she was approached by the suspect who shot her multiple times.
While attempting to escape, the gunman was challenged by a policeman. The exchange of gunfire continued along Hope Road to the vicinity of Hope Gardens where the suspect was shot.
Ms Bernard and the gunman were taken to the University Hospital of the West Indies, where she was pronounced dead.