A 27-year-old man, who was shot during an illegal gun salute at a New Year's party in Meggie Hill, St James, died yesterday while undergoing treatment at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

The Constabulary Communi-cation Network (CCN) said Kimani Manderson, also called 'Bread Back' and who resides in Meggie Hill, was shot at approximately 12:10 am when a group of men at the party began giving gun salutes to welcome the new year. Manderson was rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where doctors there tried to help him, but he died.

The barking of illegal guns to welcome a new year have become a 'tradition' in many communities across Jamaica, and yesterday the police said the many gun salutes by hoodlums to ring in 2009 was an indication of the problems that they will have to grapple with this year.

"This has always been an area of concern for the police. The presence of illegal guns on the streets," said Superintendent Karl Bowen.

He said that while it may not be possible to prove that all the gunfire heard in some areas during the New Year's celebrations were from illegal weapons, "it was a harsh reminder to the police about the number of illegal guns on the street".

"It is a sad reminder to the society and the police that the guns are still there and it is part of our (the police's) aim for the New Year to rid the streets of the guns," said Deputy Superintendent Karl McKenzie.
St James man shot during illegal gun salute dies

A 27-year-old man, who was shot during an illegal gun salute at a New Year's party in Meggie Hill, St James, died yesterday while undergoing treatment at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

The Constabulary Communi-cation Network (CCN) said Kimani Manderson, also called 'Bread Back' and who resides in Meggie Hill, was shot at approximately 12:10 am when a group of men at the party began giving gun salutes to welcome the new year. Manderson was rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where doctors there tried to help him, but he died.

The barking of illegal guns to welcome a new year have become a 'tradition' in many communities across Jamaica, and yesterday the police said the many gun salutes by hoodlums to ring in 2009 was an indication of the problems that they will have to grapple with this year.
"This has always been an area of concern for the police. The presence of illegal guns on the streets," said Superintendent Karl Bowen.

He said that while it may not be possible to prove that all the gunfire heard in some areas during the New Year's celebrations were from illegal weapons, "it was a harsh reminder to the police about the number of illegal guns on the street".

"It is a sad reminder to the society and the police that the guns are still there and it is part of our (the police's) aim for the New Year to rid the streets of the guns," said Deputy Superintendent Karl McKenzie.