Jamaica police probe fatal shootings, crash injuries and major criminal charges

Jamaican authorities are investigating a series of major incidents, including a fatal police shooting in St. Andrew, a deadly mob attack in Kingston and a Clarendon toll road crash that injured 41 people, most of them children.

Police said Orlando Smon, also known as “Bomber”, was killed early this morning during an alleged confrontation in Cassava Peace, St. Andrew. A firearm was reportedly taken from the scene after a planned police operation around 4:30 a.m. INDECOM has opened an investigation. Up to May 19, 130 people had died in alleged encounters with the security forces, including 15 in May.

In Westmoreland, residents identified murder victim Vin Roy Holes as a labourer believed to be in his 40s. He was reportedly attacked while inside his house at Retreat early Wednesday, and his head was said to have been partially severed.

At least 41 people, including 39 children from the Gar Masio school in Clarendon, were hurt Wednesday morning when a Coaster bus struck a concrete median at the May Pen entrance to the Williamsfield Toll Road about 7:57 a.m. Police said they could not yet confirm whether another vehicle was involved.

St. Mary police are also probing a fatal hit-and-run on the Haywood Hall Main Road near the Hampstead entrance about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. The unidentified man, believed to have been of unsound mind, died at Port Maria Hospital after being struck by a vehicle whose driver left the scene.

In Southside, Kingston, relatives are calling for justice after 46-year-old Margaret Burton of Gold Street died at Kingston Public Hospital following an alleged mob beating that police say began after a dispute with a woman.

Police have charged 21-year-old Andre Brown, otherwise called “Bigs”, of Viseral Avenue, Kingston 13, with murder and gun offences over the March 1 killing of Tyreek Pier on Freeman in St. Andrew. Brown was held in St. Ann on May 18.

In St. James, 31-year-old Dane Watson has been charged with murdering his American wife, 35-year-old Melissa Samnoff, who was found injured at Cornwall Regional Hospital on April 29 and later died.

A St. Catherine court granted $700,000 bail to Lenford Ferguson in an alleged Mandela Highway cocaine and ganja case, while co-accused Donald Bo was denied bail. The matter returns on May 26.

Government officials say 924 containerised housing units are already in Jamaica as part of plans to provide more than 2,500 modular homes for Hurricane Melissa victims. The Met Service is also monitoring a developing El Nino, warning that rainfall has declined and temperatures have been rising.