Cops ID man shot on Nightingale Grove playfield

The deceased is Hoden Creary, 28, of Windsor Heights, Central Village in East Central St Catherine, the police have confirmed.

Creary was found by residents suffering from gunshot wounds before succumbing while undergoing treatment at the Spanish Town Hospital.

The incident occurred about 1:00 pm on September 25.

• Unidentified man found on Nightingale Grove playfield succumbs to gunshot wounds

Investigators were unable to identify Creary who did not have any form of identification on his persons, while residents say they were seeing him for the first time.

Intelligence gathered by the police, however, led them to the violence plagued community of Central Village where contact was made with a relative of the deceased.

Creary is said to be a self-employed 'loans officer' – a high-risk unregulated financial scheme in which small amounts of cash is credited to clients who repay with interests within a specified time frame.

It's a growing underground business amongst persons of all social status, an investigator told Old Harbour News, though one can be fined heavily or imprisoned under the Financial Services Commissioned Act.

Investigators are following several theories to ascertain the true reason for Creary being in Nightingale Grove, a normally quiet and peaceful community established from the mid1970s.

Residents who were at the scene when he was shot said he nodded when asked if he knew who shot him. They were unable, though, to decipher much from his mutterings which were inaudible for the most part.

There is also speculation that he might have been led to the area by the other party to purchase illegal gun. However, investigators say they have found no evidence to suggest he's of that ilk.

The police say based on information gleaned so far two men were seen running towards the river at the time Creary was shot.

Investigation continues.