Police investigate fatal crashes, shootings and child death across Jamaica

Police across Jamaica are investigating several major incidents reported on Monday, June 1, 2026, including the death of a policeman in St. Catherine, a woman found dead in Hanover, a double fatal shooting in St. Elizabeth and the death of a young child in St. James.

Constable Shanki Gordon, attached to the St. Catherine North operations team, died after a motorcycle crash in Watton, St. Catherine, on Monday morning. Reports say the collision happened sometime after 2 a.m. when Gordon’s motorcycle crashed into another vehicle. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and later pronounced dead.

In Hanover, police are questioning a man after his spouse was found dead at a rental house. The woman, whose body was discovered in a room, had reportedly been staying in the Bulls Bay area with the man and a young baby believed to be their child for about a year. Residents reportedly contacted police after seeing the man walking towards Lucea with the baby before daybreak. Assistant Commissioner Glenford Miller said it was too early to determine who killed the woman.

St. Elizabeth detectives are awaiting ballistics findings after 64-year-old car dealer Melvin Blight and 34-year-old Romel Johnson, also called Cotti or Coman, were found dead at an auto mart in Longwood near Santa Cruz. Police theorise Johnson entered the property to remove car parts, after tools and a dismantled headlight were found. Blight’s wife later found his body after calls to him went unanswered. Police said Johnson’s body was found beyond a 10-foot wall with Blight’s firearm.

In St. James, investigators are probing the death of three-year-old Joashani Stevens of Ocean Ridges Street, Paradise, Norwood. Police say her 20-year-old mother took her to Cornwall Regional Hospital about 9:19 p.m. with bruises and swelling to the forehead. She was pronounced dead on arrival.

Separately, Dean Dawson is to learn next Tuesday whether he will be convicted of harbouring Glendon “Bull” Amos, a former St. Catherine wanted man, after his arrest in 2025. Taxi association president Lorraine Finikin also said action is being taken against operators accused of unlawfully raising fares before an approved 16 per cent increase takes effect.