MANCHESTER, Jamaica – A harrowing incident took place at a Gospel Concert in Christiana, Manchester, on Tuesday night, December 26, 2023, as five individuals, including a woman, fell victim to a targeted shooting.
Superintendent Shane McCalla, head of the Manchester Police, confirmed the attack, labeling it as an “unprovoked and senseless act.” The event, traditionally known for its peaceful and festive atmosphere, was disrupted minutes before 11:00 p.m. when two assailants on a motorcycle opened fire indiscriminately on attendees outside the concert venue.
This year’s gospel concert was intended to honor its late founder, Lennox “Peter” Powell, who passed away in June 2023. Despite ongoing investigations, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
The victims were expeditiously transported to the hospital and are reportedly in stable condition, though the community remains shaken by the appalling turn of events.
In response to this tragedy, Superintendent McCalla hinted at the possibility of imposing restrictions on upcoming events leading up to New Year’s Eve, emphasizing the need for thorough intelligence assessments and a potential review of the decision in the first week of January.
Police charged a Deportee with a 2018 Oxford Street murder.
On December 25, 2023, law enforcement authorities charged a 50-year-old murder suspect, recently deported back to the Island, with the September 2018 murder of Tomolo Thomas in Upper Oxford Street, Kingston 14.
Omar Berford, also known as ‘Guns’ and ‘Gunnoz’, allegedly stabbed the 31-year-old Thomas to death during an argument at their Upper Oxford Street address. The altercation turned physical, resulting in Berford inflicting multiple stab wounds to Thomas’ head and neck with a knife. Thomas succumbed to his injuries upon arrival at the hospital.
After being arrested overseas and subsequently deported on December 21, 2023, Berford was handed over to local authorities and charged on Christmas Day. His court date is pending.
Father died, daughter hospitalized in Montego Bay bike crash.
Fatal Accident in St. James, Jamaica
On Wednesday, December 27, 2023, in Montego Bay, authorities responded to a tragic motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Bogue Road and Alice Eldemire Drive. The collision resulted in the death of Marlon Allen, 43, a resident of Woodland in Hanover, and left his daughter hospitalized.
The incident occurred just after 6:00 a.m. when Allen and his daughter were traveling on his motorcycle along Bogue Main Road. At the intersection of Alice Eldemire Drive and Bogue Road, their motorcycle collided with a Toyota Wish, causing both individuals to be thrown from the motorcycle.
Emergency services rushed the victims to the hospital, where Allen was pronounced dead, and his daughter was admitted for treatment. The authorities are currently investigating this tragic collision.