A man was shot dead after he and three others ambushed a policeman and opened fire at him on the Cinnamon Hill main road in St James yesterday. His cronies escaped.

The unidentified man is of dark complexion, slim build and about 182 centimetres tall. His body was clad in red T-shirt, brown jeans pants and a pair of black shoes.

Police said about 12:30 a.m., the policeman was driving his private motor car along the road when a white motor car drove up and blocked his path. Three men brandishing guns alighted and opened fire. The lawman pulled his firearm and challenged his attackers.

Two of the gunmen ran into nearby bushes while the other drove away. The policeman and other colleagues, who later joined him, carried out a search of the area and found one of the men in the bushes suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Montego Bay police are appealing to anyone who may have information about the other two men or their whereabouts to contact them at 953-2229, Crime Stop at 311, Kingfish at 811, police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station.