In just a little over 24 hours, six people were murdered by gunmen in separate incidents in St James, but the police were still unable to identify any definitive motive for the incidents.

Up to press time yesterday, the police confirmed that no motive had been established for any of the incidents.

At about 8:30 p.m. on Monday, gunmen staged a brazen attack in the heart of downtown Montego Bay and shot two men who washed cars near the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Cocaine addicts

They are Miguel Thompson, 34, of no fixed address, and Marvin Williams, 40, labourer of Paradise, Norwood, in the parish. It was confirmed that both deceased were cocaine addicts. Some residents have speculated that their deaths might have been a reprisal for stealing from people's vehicles.

Reports are that Thompson and Williams were sitting on a wall along Harbour Street when a car drove up. Two men alighted and opened fire, killing Thompson on the spot. Williams was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he died while being treated.

Early Sunday morning, gunmen invaded a bar in Hendon, Glendevon, and shot eight people, four of whom died.