IT WAS high drama on the streets of Ocho Rios yesterday afternoon when gunmen and the police traded bullets after a daring daylight robbery at a cambio in the resort town.

At the end of the shooting, three alleged gunmen lay dead.

Their identities are yet to be determined.

An undetermined amount of money was recovered. While confirming the seizure of firearms, the police were not yet able to confirm how many.

Reports are that about 2:10 p.m. yesterday, three men went to Cambio King at Ocean Village Shopping Centre under the guise of conducting business.

After a few minutes inside the cambio, the men brandished firearms and proceeded to rob the businessplace.

Alerted by employees

According to deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in charge of administration for St Ann, Dalton Wright, employees of the cambio alerted the police. The police responded and the gunmen, in their bid to escape in a waiting white Honda Partner motor car, parked along Milford Road, engaged the police in a shoot-out.

"During the ensuing shoot-out between the gunmen and the police, three men were shot and injured. They were quickly rushed to the St Ann's Bay Hospital, where they were pronounced dead by medical personnel," Wright said.

Several motor cars were damaged by stray bullets, including a Jamaica Union of Travellers' Association taxi transporting tourists. There were no reports of injuries.

Questioned about assertions that one person got away, DSP Wright said he did not have such information, but said the possibility existed and investigations were continuing.

Regarding the damage to motor vehicles, Wright said he was aware of the situation and said the State would be responsible for compensating owners.