A 21-year-old man pleaded guilty to 13 felonies in Manchester.

Judicial Scoop

MANCHESTER, Jamaica – A 21-year-old man whom the police indicted for several felonies, including two counts of murder, was convicted in the Home Circuit Court on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

Deandre Grant, a construction worker from Bellfield district in Manchester and Canaan Heights in May Pen, Clarendon, pleaded guilty to 13 charges laid against him.

Grant was charged on October 4 by the Manchester police with two counts of murder, two counts of wounding with intent, three counts of assault with intent to rob, and six counts of making use of a firearm to commit a felony.

The presiding Justice, Leighton Pusey, remanded him in custody for sentencing on December 7, 2023.

The police reported that Grant’s first shooting resulted in the killing of Soniel ‘Shine’ Muschette, 21, a construction worker from Comfort district, Manchester, on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

The police said around 4:00 p.m., on that fateful day, Muschette was allegedly shot to death by Grant in Kendall district in the parish.

Additionally, Novlyn Catherine Matthews, 44, a chef from New Green district, Manchester, was shot dead and a man injured when Grant attacked them in their community on Friday, March 3.

According to the police, Matthews and the man were walking on the roadway when Grant and three other armed men allegedly pounced upon them. They opened gunfire on both victims, hitting them multiple times before escaping into the area.

The injured people were transported to hospital, where Matthews was pronounced dead and the wounded man treated.

Three days later, on Monday, March 6, 2023, Grant allegedly struck again at a plaza in Mandeville, where it was reported that two security guards were attacked by three men, one of whom had a handgun.

The attackers demanded money from one of the two guards. The demands were not met, a tussle ensued, and the attackers fled after the armed man opened gunfire, the police said.

Grant’s alleged last victim was shot and injured on Monday, July 31, 2023, at his home in Top Coffee Grove district in the parish.

The man reported that he was at home around 12:50 a.m., when he was reportedly attacked by Grant, who was armed with a gun. A fight ensued, during which the man was shot several times. He ran and was later assisted to the hospital, where he was treated.

During an operation, the police arrested Grant on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, in Westmoreland in relation to a separate incident. He was later handed over to the Manchester police and charged.