Two St James men charged following Coral Gardens shooting

Two men have been formally charged by the St. James police in connection with a shooting incident that occurred in Coral Gardens on Saturday, August 8. The accused are Devantae Lawrence, 20, of Dappa Lane, and Demar Ricardo Atkinson, 23, a construction worker from Top Edinburgh, both in St. James.

Lawrence and Atkinson face multiple charges, including shooting with intent, using a firearm to commit a felony, possession of a prohibited weapon, and unauthorized possession of ammunition. These charges stem from an incident where the complainant, a licensed firearm holder, was driving his vehicle when it was blocked by a Toyota Voxy.

According to police reports, a man exited the Voxy and began firing shots at the complainant's vehicle. The complainant returned fire, prompting the gunman to flee in the Voxy. A pursuit ensued, leading to the Voxy colliding with a parked trailer and then with the complainant's vehicle.

One individual fled the scene, while Lawrence was found injured beside the crashed Voxy. Atkinson was apprehended later in the Ironshore area after fleeing. A search of the Voxy reportedly uncovered a black Glock .45 pistol with four live rounds. Lawrence was hospitalized under police guard. Court dates for both men are currently being finalized.