Three men are in Police custody in connection with the Christmas Holiday shooting spree that left a father-of-three dead.

Aquil Richardson, 30, was fatally gunned down while sitting on a wall at the corner of Spice Hill Road and Horseshoe Road in the Camp Hill, Southampton area at 9 p.m. on Boxing Day.

Levar Smith, who was shot in his legs in the same incident, may have been saved by a neighbour who took the 25-year-old in his car to the hospital.

Only the day before — at 12.20 a.m. Christmas Day — Jakai Harford, 24, had been shot in his shoulder while he was in the Camp Hill area.

The two incidents have still not been linked by Police and both Mr. Smith and Mr. Harford were discharged from the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital — where they had Police guard — on Friday.

Both Mr. Richardson and Mr. Harford were known by Police.

The Royal Gazette understands Mr. Harford had recently been released from prison. In 2005, he was given a four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of assault causing grievous bodily harm.

Mr. Richardson had appeared in court a number of times for gun and drug charges.

At the time of his death, he was awaiting Supreme Court trial on allegations of gun, ammunition and drugs possession. He denied the allegations.

Yesterday a Police spokesman said officers had arrested eight men in connection with the shooting spree, but five were released.

The forensic pathologist who arrived on the Island Friday night, completed an autopsy on Mr. Richardson and confirmed that he died from gunshot wounds. Mr. Richardson's funeral took place yesterday.

Police are still seeking help with the murder investigation and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information on the shootings to contact them on 299-4323.

There is also a 24-hour, confidential CrimeStoppers hotline those with information can call — the calls are answered in Miami and are kept completely anonymous.

They can be reached at: 1-800-623-8477.