Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:

The police say they have no proof that relatives of eight year-old British visitor, Imani Green, who was shot by a lone gunman in Duncans, Trelawny, last Friday are involved in Lottery Scamming.

"We are not ruling out the influence of lottery scamming playing a role in the shooting, but we have not said the family are scammers, neither has the ministry," says Assistant Commissioner of Police for Area One Headquarters, Devon Watkis.



Since news broke that Minister of National Security, Peter Bunting, had blamed the killing on lottery scamming, the family has been distraught.

"The minister is not exactly wrong, he was speaking from the initial brief he was given," stated the ACP, hoping to clarify any misunderstanding.

ACP Watkis was responding to questions posed by The Gleaner this morning.

He confirmed that a number of persons were arrested over the weekend and are now in custody being questioned. He would not confirm if there were actually eight persons arrested, as reported by BBC News.

"We are continuing operations are not connecting anyone in custody in relation to the murder," he stated. He noted that the police were pursuing a number of leads and feel the persons in custody will be able to assist.

Reports are that Imani, a sickler, who was visiting from Balham, London, was shot by a lone gunman who fired a barrage of bullets in the shop, operated by a relative last Friday night.

The youngster received the bullets to the head.

Three other persons were shot, but their injuries were not considered life-threatening.

The gunman, who wore a hoodie, reportedly alighted from a car about 100 metres away, walked up to the shop and shot the occupants, then walked back to the car and escaped.

Bullet holes in various parts of the shop told the tale of the brutal attack.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com