Three men were fatally shot by the police during a gun battle on Norman Manley Boulevard, Negril, Westmoreland, yesterday. Two illegal firearms were seized following the incident.

The unidentified dead men are believed to be in their early 20s and 30s.

Reports are that about 12:30 a.m., police on foot patrol saw four men sitting on a bench near a resort, behaving suspiciously.

When they were accosted, they allegedly pulled guns and fired at the police. The fire was returned and the gunmen fled in different directions.

A search of the area was done and two of the thugs - one cl**tching a home-made double-barrel shotgun containing a 12-gauge cartridge and the other a .38 revolver with two live rounds - were found with gunshot wounds.

The adjoining premises were also searched and the third man, who was found hiding, chopped at a member of the team with a machete and was shot. The weapons were retrieved and all three taken to Savannah-la-Mar Hospital where they died.

According to reports, one member of the police party received minor injuries and was treated and released. The Bureau of Special Investigations has commenced a probe.