ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Two men were fatally shot in Greater Portmore, St Catherine, following an armed confrontation with the police on Thursday, January 18, 2024.
The confrontation began in Spanish Town, St Catherine, and concluded in Greater Portmore, during which two 9mm pistols and a quantity of ammunition were seized.
In a news conference on Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Fitz Bailey revealed that one of the deceased men was Christopher Shield, also known as ‘Gang Bang,’ whom he described as a contract killer. Bailey reported that the shootout with the police was aimed at preventing Shield from carrying out a planned murder in St Catherine.
Highlighting Shield’s extensive criminal record, DCP Bailey stated that the deceased was responsible for the murder of siblings Kerrick Moodie and Keneisha Moddie of Grange Hill in Westmoreland, who were killed on Friday, December 8, 2023. Bailey emphasized Shield’s ruthlessness, citing his involvement in burying the victims and labeling him a heartless and vicious criminal.
Moreover, Bailey revealed Shield’s involvement in a series of robberies in Westmoreland, including a multimillion-dollar robbery in November 2023, the shooting death of a taxi operator, and subsequent robbery incidents.
Addressing the significant threat posed by Shield, Bailey commended the officers involved in thwarting the planned attack, acknowledging their dedication and selfless commitment to making Jamaica safer. The identity of the second deceased man was not disclosed during the press conference.
Detectives search for clues they hope will lead them to apprehend those responsible for the paralegal’s murder.
Detectives from the St. Andrew North Police Division are diligently uncovering evidence in the hope of identifying the perpetrators responsible for the heinous murder of Sandra Risden on Thursday, January 18, 2024, along Washington Boulevard.
Sandra Risden, a 63-year-old paralegal, was fatally shot around 7 a.m. while in traffic near Aldene Drive by two individuals on a motorcycle.
Following the incident, an off-duty policeman in a private vehicle engaged the assailants in a shootout amidst the bustling thoroughfare. Despite the confrontation, the hoodlums managed to evade capture during the busy peak hour traffic.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey, who oversees crime matters, stated in an interview with Radio Jamaica News that the police are exploring various theories that could explain the motive behind this tragic killing. Furthermore, he emphasized that the investigative team is pursuing multiple leads to identify those responsible for the attack.
The deceased had been a dedicated employee at the law firm Nunes Scholefield DeLeon and Co. Managing partner Lowell Morgan, speaking on Radio Jamaica’s Hotline on Thursday, expressed deep distress over Ms. Risden’s untimely death, emphasizing her 35 years of service to the firm.
Suspected hit-and-run victim found on Falmouth roadway
TRELAWNY, Jamaica— Trelawny police are currently investigating the discovery of a man’s body in the bushes near the roadside on a section of Market Street in Falmouth on Friday afternoon, January 19, 2024.
The identity of the deceased man has not yet been determined.
Authorities suspect that the man may have been the victim of a hit-and-run accident.
Members of the public who may have information that could assist the police in their investigation are urged to contact the Falmouth police.