Two dead after gunman fires on Mandeville taxi at Horseshoe Curve

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Two people lost their lives Saturday night in Mandeville after a gunman who had ridden in a taxi as a passenger stepped out and turned his weapon on those still inside, according to reports.

Police named the victims as Deneekia Pounall, 24, a nursing student of Heartease district who attended Knox Community College, and Sadefa Henry, 21, of Greenvale.

Early accounts place the incident around 7:30 pm. Pounall and Henry were among travellers in a Toyota Voxy running as a public passenger vehicle between Mandeville and Royal Flat. At the stretch of Caledonia Road known as Horseshoe Curve, a man who had been riding with them got out of the van.

He then allegedly discharged his firearm at the seven people in the taxi. Two occupants were hit and taken to the Mandeville Regional Hospital. Pounall was declared dead on arrival; Henry later died of his wounds.