Gunmen carried out a shooting spree at 16 Upper King Street in St. James on the afternoon of July 9, 2024, resulting in the tragic deaths of three individuals, including a teenager.
The authorities have identified the deceased as 17-year-old Jaydon Bennett, 26-year-old Rashaun Williams, and 62-year-old fisherman David West.
Reports indicate that at approximately 5 pm, law enforcement officers responded to an active shooting at 16 Upper King Street in St. James. Upon arrival, they encountered intense gunfire, prompting them to take evasive action and repel the attack.
After the shooting subsided, the police discovered three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds at different locations. The victims were promptly transported to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Following a search of the community, law enforcement officers confiscated two illegal firearms. The police have identified 32-year-old John Roach as a person of interest as they continue their investigations.
18-year-old ‘Macka’ indicted for the homicide of Trelawny man.
A Fatal Stabbing in Falmouth: Eric Simpson Charged with Murder
On Friday, July 5, 2024, the police in Falmouth, Trelawny, charged 18-year-old Eric Simpson, also known as ‘Macka’ and a resident of Water Lane in Falmouth, with the murder of 57-year-old Errol Sherley from York Pastures, Wakefield, Trelawny.
Reportedly, Simpson and Sherley had a dispute, during which Simpson used a knife to inflict multiple wounds to Sherley’s upper body. Despite the police’s intervention and assistance, Sherley was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Pending his court appearance, Simpson faces a serious legal process regarding this tragic event.
Tragic Incident: 15-year-old Boy Drowns While Fishing in St Ann River.
Law enforcement officials in St. Ann have issued a strong warning to the public, urging them to refrain from entering rivers that are experiencing rapid flooding. This caution comes in the wake of a tragic incident in the Borobridge community on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, where a teenager named Matthew Fung, a 15-year-old student at Alston High School in Clarendon, lost his life.
Reports indicate that the unfortunate event occurred around 5:30 p.m. while Fung, accompanied by his father and a friend, was fishing in a river that had overflowed its banks. Regrettably, the teen fell from a raft into the fast-flowing water, and despite efforts to rescue him, they were unsuccessful. Subsequently, authorities recovered the young teen’s body from the river.
Senior Superintendent Dwight Powell, the head of the St. Ann police, reiterated the importance of heeding the warning and emphasized the need for citizens to stay clear of rivers during periods of rapid spate, particularly after heavy rainfall.
Potential Disruption to School Reopening Due to Hurricane Damage.
The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) is warning that schools could have trouble opening in September due to the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl. The Ministry of Education reported that schools in the region suffered nearly a billion dollars in damage.
JTA President Leighton Johnson recommended that the Ministry set up a special fund to help with natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and fires that might damage or destroy school buildings. He also suggested that the government consider getting insurance for schools to make the education system stronger.
Mr. Johnson proposed that the Education Ministry quickly give out contracts to start fixing the damaged schools, especially the ones for young children. He also suggested that schools be allowed to hire contractors for minor repairs, which would help the schools affected by the hurricane get ready for September sooner.
He said that the primary and infant schools that were damaged need quick attention because they get very little money from the Ministry of Education each year for maintenance, and the school administrators will be under a lot of pressure to make the necessary repairs in time.