A police corporal who was shot and killed in an hours-long standoff with criminals in Five Mile, Sligoville in the hills of St Catherine Friday morning had just recently completed his probationary period.

He is identified as Corporal Trevoy Shaw of Special Operations.

Another policeman, a constable, was shot in the head and is currently in surgery. A third lawman was injured in the incident, but not by gunshot.

Mahiri Stewart has the details.

The usual quiet of Sligoville was replaced by heavy gunfire early Friday morning.

The situation began unfolding in the early hours when a joint police military operation to apprehend a high-risk target got underway.

The police say the target, believed to be an ex-soldier, was wanted by the St Andrew Andrew North Police Division. They had reportedly been pursuing him for several months.

Our sources say the target operates between Five Mile in Sligoville and an address in James Mountain, also in St Catherine.

On the arrival of the security forces on Friday, he and his cronies barricaded themselves in a house and opened fire on the lawmen. Corporal Shaw was among those hit.

A woman close to the situation shares the details in this audio received by our news centre.

Meanwhile, at least one woman and a child were inside the house with the gunmen. One of the gunmen reportedly shot the child, said to be his daughter.

Two of the assailants in the shootout were later shot and killed.