Police are trying to ascertain the motive behind this morning’s attack at the Mandeville Market, in which seven people were shot, two of them fatally.

Preliminary reports are that shortly after 10:00 AM, two men accessed the market from the back entrance and started shooting at persons in the facility.

When the shooting subsided, seven people were found suffering from gunshot wounds. 

Two people, a man and a woman, were later pronounced dead.

The woman has been identified as Melissa Merchant, of Warwick in Asia, Manchester.

The identity of the deceased man has not been revealed.

Mayor of Mandeville, Donovan Mitchell, who provided an update on the victims of the attack, said he was at a Peace March at the time of the shooting.

He said it is a sad day for the parish.

Mayor Mitchell expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased, while noting that the Municipal Corporation will provide assistance where possible.

He encouraged residents to share what they know with the police.