Another St. James woman has fallen victim to the ruthless gangsters wreaking havoc in western Jamaica. The death toll for 2024 has already reached 29 in St. James, with the most recent casualty being 36-year-old security guard Nastacia Smith.
Smith was tragically gunned down in her own home on Sunday, March 17, 2024, as heartless gang members unleashed a barrage of bullets, leaving her lifeless body in a pool of blood.
This harrowing incident follows closely behind the brutal murder of Sudean Hylton, a Glendevon resident who, despite being out on bail for a murder charge, met a similarly violent end in Darliston, Westmoreland.
The authorities had previously linked Hylton to the 2021 slaying of Glendevon businessman Richard ‘Jimmy’ Baker. The reprehensible actions of these gangsters serve as a chilling reminder of the ongoing threat and lawlessness plaguing these communities.
Body Discovered in Aberdeen District, St Ann.
The Aberdeen District in St Ann was the site of a grim discovery on Tuesday morning, March 19, 2024, as residents stumbled upon the body of a man along a roadway in the community.
The deceased was later identified as Marlon Manning of Seville Heights, in St Ann. The police reported that at approximately 6:30 a.m., residents found the lifeless body of a male lying on the ground and promptly alerted the authorities.
Law enforcement officers from the Brown’s Town Police Station responded to the scene, conducted necessary procedures, and initiated a thorough investigation.
St Catherine laborer shot dead in Spanish Town.
Fatal Shooting in St. Catherine
A tragic incident occurred on Monday night, March 18, 2024, in Cromarty, Spanish Town, St. Catherine when Samura Pusey, also known as ‘Not Nice,’ a 33-year-old laborer from Bongo Lane, was fatally shot during a drive-by shooting.
Reportedly, Pusey was standing along the community’s roadway when assailants in a motorcar opened fire, leading to his untimely demise.
The police have initiated an investigation into the matter, with the motive behind the attack yet to be determined. Our thoughts go out to the victim’s family and friends during this difficult time.
Football Game Altercation Results in Officer Sustaining Injuries.
A suspect accused of assaulting a police officer during a football match was granted bail for $200,000 when he appeared in the St Catherine Parish Court on Monday, March 18, 2024.
Garfield Francis, residing on Windsor Road in Spanish Town, is facing the charge of assault occasioning bodily harm.
During the court mention, the prosecution informed the court that the complainant could not attend the hearing due to significant pain.
Allegations suggest that on March 9, 2024, the accused and the complainant, who is a constable, got into a physical altercation during a football game, stemming from a dispute over retrieving the ball. The complainant suffered multiple blows during the skirmish.
The complainant filed a report at the Spanish Town Police Station, leading to Francis’s arrest and charge.
Attorney-at-law Denise Hinson, representing the accused, presented her client’s account.
“There was a physical incident on the football field; however, the complainant was the aggressor, and my client punched him in the face in self-defense,” stated Hinson.
Senior Parish Court Judge Desiree Alleyne granted bail with sureties, scheduling Francis to reappear in court on April 19. The Crown did not oppose bail.