The Irish Pen community is now tense following the fatal shooting of two men by the police yesterday.

Those killed have been identified as Damion 'Scallawa' Dawes, 27, and 21-year-old Ricardo Butler, otherwise called 'Popeye' of Irish Pen, St Catherine.

Reports are that about 10 a.m., a police party was on patrol in the community when they reportedly entered a premises and encountered four men, included Dawes and Butler.

It is alleged that a shootout ensued and after it ended, Butler and Dawes were found nursing gunshot wounds.

Dawes was allegedly found cl**tching a semi-automatic shotgun. A belt with a number of 12-gauge cartridges were alleged to have also been around his waist.

It is said that the other two men, one of whom was suspected to be shot, escaped.

The police are maintaining a presence in the affected community, as some residents have claimed that the men were killed unjustly.