Two men found dead in burnt Clarendon vehicle; St Ann guard charged in supermarket shooting

Police in Clarendon are investigating the deaths of two men whose charred remains were found inside a burnt-out motor vehicle at Bullet Mountain in the early hours of Saturday.

The dead have been identified as Daniel Thomas, a 25-year-old farmer, and Tyrone Thompson, 22, also known as Baba. Both were from Good Hope District in the parish. Officers said the remains were discovered about 2:15 a.m. in a grey car destroyed by fire. The vehicle also showed what appeared to be gunshot damage to the front passenger door and the rear left sliding door. The bodies were taken to hospital, where death was confirmed. Inquiries continue.

In St Ann, security guard Gareth Wright, 51, of Stanfast District in Browns Town, has been charged with wounding with intent, using a firearm to commit a felony, and possession of a firearm to cause injury. Discovery Bay police said that about 5:50 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, a man entered the supermarket where Wright worked. As the customer left, Wright asked to search his bag; the man refused. A physical clash followed, during which Wright allegedly shot the customer in the abdomen. The injured man was admitted to hospital. Wright was arrested after investigators reviewed video footage and took a statement from the complainant. A court date is being set.

Separately, relatives of missing St Ann man Teacher Hamilton are offering a $500,000 reward for information on his whereabouts. Hamilton left his Steer Town home on Saturday, July 4, to attend a grave-digging at Mountain Road, Bamboo, travelling by public transport. He never arrived and has not been heard from since. When last seen he wore a plaid shirt and black pants. He is about six feet tall, weighs roughly 170 pounds, and has greyish hair. Anyone with information is asked to contact the St Ann’s Bay Police, the nearest station, or call 87647350 or 8763690145.

In St Catherine, 69-year-old landlord Lloyd Gonzalez, also called Guns, has been charged with breaches of the Rent Restriction Act and with breaking and larceny after allegedly stealing about $400,000 in coins from a tenant. Old Harbour police said the tenant locked her rented home and left on July 6. Returning about 3 p.m. on July 9, she found the padlocks on the front grill cut off and replaced, a room door forced, and her savings pan of coins gone. Gonzalez was arrested and charged on July 11 after reportedly confessing. His court date is being finalised.

Opposition People’s National Party MP Dwayne Vaz of Westmoreland Central has left the shadow cabinet. After talks with Opposition Leader Mark Golding, Vaz will concentrate on constituency duties and step aside as deputy spokesperson on roads and works. The party said Golding and colleagues understood the move and thanked him for his service.

In a justice feature, the public was reminded that under section 15 of the Justices of the Peace Act the office is not one of emolument, so JP services must be free. Anyone asked for a payment or favour should note the JP’s name and report it to the local Custos or the Ministry of Justice. Breach of the code can lead to revocation of the commission by the Governor-General, on the minister’s and Custos’s recommendation, with no appeal.

At the St Catherine District Adult Correctional Centre, Corporal Dear Burke highlighted education and skills programmes, saying inmates have passed subjects including accounting, English and mathematics, advanced from associate to bachelor’s study, and trained in computing and radio broadcasting as part of rehabilitation.