Tragic events unfolded at the Half-Way Tree Police Station in St Andrew on Monday, July 22, 2024, resulting in the fatal shooting of a businessman and a police sergeant.
The scene was the St Andrew Central Divisional Headquarters in Half Way Tree, St Andrew, where Deon Singh, part owner of Singh’s Motors, reportedly disarmed a police officer and allegedly fatally shot Detective Sergeant Kevin Mayne before turning the gun on himself.
Preliminary reports indicate that Singh shot himself in the mouth, although it remains unclear whether he was killed by the self-inflicted wound or by bullets fired by the other lawmen.
Notably, Singh and his wife, Sophia Ramsundar-Singh, had been scheduled to appear before the court on Monday to address fraud-related charges. It is understood that monies owed to complainants for motor vehicle transactions were settled prior to the court hearing. When the matter was called up on Monday, it was stood down to give the police time to verify whether they had further interest in the accused.
The situation escalated as the Singhs, having spent considerable time in the courtroom, left for the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) office sometime after 1 p.m. Mayne, who was reportedly the investigating officer in a case against the car dealers, was escorting Singh to the lockup sometime after 5 p.m. when he observed that the businessman was in possession of a cell phone.
As Mayne attempted to retrieve the phone, a struggle ensued between him and Singh, leading another policeman to come to Mayne’s aid. Tragically, Singh managed to take the service pistol from the second policeman and shot Mayne multiple times before turning the weapon on himself, prompting the lawman’s colleagues to open fire at the businessman.
Following the incident, officers rushed both men to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), where they were pronounced dead on arrival. The Half-Way Tree CIB and the Independent Commission of Investigations are actively investigating the tragic event.
Singh’s Motors has been the subject of numerous complaints in recent years, with dissatisfied clients expressing concerns in articles published by The Gleaner regarding issues they encountered while attempting to purchase motor vehicles from the company. The Half-Way Tree CIB has confirmed that the car dealership is under investigation concerning multiple allegations of fraud.
The gravity of the situation prompted several members of the Police High Command to visit the crime scene.