A wannabe thief was fatally shot and an illegal firearm taken from him in east Kingston after he reportedly tried to rob an off-duty policeman on Saturday.

He has been identified as 20-year-old Lemard Campbell of Rushden Road, Kingston 2.

Police reports are that about 9:15 a.m., the policeman was driving his vehicle along Windward Road where he stopped to speak with a friend.

While doing so, an armed man approached and demanded money from the two.

The off-duty policeman pulled his service firearm and a shoot-out ensued during which Campbell was hit. A 9mm Beretta pistol with five rounds of ammunition was taken from him.

He was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.