By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who was fatally shot yesterday morning was out on bail on a firearm possession charge at the time of his death, Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle said yesterday.

The victim was shot to death in Masons Addition on Sunday, one of three murders since last Wednesday that has pushed the death toll to 121, according to The Tribune’s records. This means that this year’s murder count has surpassed the 119 murders that police said were recorded in 2013.

Mr Rolle said the 42-year-old Masons Addition resident had previously been shot while in the same area. The suspect in that shooting has since been murdered, Mr Rolle added.

Mr Rolle made his statements at a press conference at the Central Detective Unit yesterday afternoon.

While police still have no motive or no suspects in custody in connection with this latest homicide, Mr Rolle said he expected a formal identification on the victim to be released today.

Meanwhile, police are also busy investigating two murders that took place last week, one of which took place on Christmas Eve.

Regarding yesterday’s murder, Mr Rolle said that shortly after 7am the victim was sitting on a bench in the front of his home in Masons Addition when two men accosted him. One of the assailants reportedly produced a handgun and discharged multiple shots at the deceased.

To escape the barrage of bullets, Mr Rolle said the victim reportedly ran to a neighbour’s home to seek refuge. Once there, and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, Mr Rolle said a neighbour took him to the Princess Margaret Hospital to seek medical attention.

The victim was pronounced dead upon arrival.

“We ask persons in the Masons Addition, Spencer Street area who may have information on this latest homicide to reach out to us so that we can advance this investigation,” Mr Rolle said yesterday.

Police are also investigating a murder that occurred on Christmas Eve and another that occurred on Saturday.

Regarding the Christmas Eve murder, reports are that shortly after 2pm last Wednesday the deceased was talking to another man on Dorsette Alley off Hospital Lane when a man pulled up on a trail motorbike and shot him multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

There was an exchange of gunfire during the incident, police said. The suspect was also reportedly shot by the man who was with the victim. The suspect was taken to hospital in a private vehicle, where he is detained in serious condition under heavy police guard.

Three days later another man was killed, this time in the Claridge Road area. According to reports, shortly after 1am on Saturday, the victim was walking on Carl Road, off Claridge Road, when he was shot multiple times by a man who left the scene in a Nissan Sentra. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are continuing their investigations into all of these matters.