ST ANN, Jamaica – St Ann detectives responsible for the Watt Town community have taken two persons into custody following the brutal murder of a shopkeeper on Sunday, July 2, 2023.
The police identified the dead man as Herbert ‘Babsy’ Simms, age 60, a shopkeeper in the Watt Town community.
According to reports, Simms’ body was discovered at about 1:00 am Sunday, July 2, 2023, by a resident who had gone to the shop to make a purchase.
The resident raised the alarm and summoned the police. Upon their arrival, the police found Simms lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds to his neck–and the shop ransacked.
By mid-afternoon, the police arrested two prime suspects.
Within hours the head of St Ann Police Department, Senior Superintendent Dwight Powell, confirmed that the police had taken two persons into custody concerning Simms’ murder.
According to Powell, the men would be charged with the crime by the end of the day.
“The investigation quickly ensued, and we picked up two prime suspects. Before the day is out, we are certain the police will formally charge them for murder,” SSP Powell said.
Dwight Powell, head of St Ann Police Department.
He added that the incident has once again highlighted the issue of domestic violence in the parish.
“This has brought into question the issue of us not resolving domestic-related matters peacefully. So, again I’m going to use the opportunity to appeal to the citizens of this parish to find peaceable ways to resolve their conflict situation,” he noted.
Dwight Powell, head of St Ann Police Department.
Powell reminded residents that there are centers in the parish to aid in solving domestic violence issues.
“Of course, the police are there to assist. We have a center available in Alexandria that is the domestic dispute resolution center, there are also other places in St Ann’s Bay where we partner with our persons, and so we are saying let us talk it out instead of fighting out the issues,” he said.
Dwight Powell, head of St Ann Police Department.