Jamaica weekend roundup: Kingston bar attack, police deaths, highway crash and Rocky Point sea damage

Jamaica recorded a series of serious weekend incidents, including a deadly bar attack in Kingston, the deaths of two police personnel, several crashes, a robbery, coastal damage in Clarendon and a school closure after a teacher was killed.

In Kingston Eastern, detectives are investigating Sunday night’s killing of 23-year-old Theodore Williamson, also called Travon, of Victoria Avenue, Kingston 16, and the wounding of a 47-year-old man at 1B Upper Elletson Road. Police said two masked men entered a bar about 9:15 p.m., forced patrons into a back room, robbed the premises and shot Williamson multiple times in the upper body. The second victim was shot in the right forearm. The attackers left in a waiting vehicle, and investigators said the motive remains under review.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force is also mourning Constable Mickel Francis, known as Teddy Bear, and District Constable Nicholas McLean, 54. Francis was found with a gunshot wound to the head at the Maroon Town Police Station in St. James shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, after police reportedly stopped a vehicle belonging to him and found that its driver was on the St. James wanted list. McLean died at Kingston Public Hospital on Saturday after being treated for chronic heart disease since last month. Three Highway Patrol members and the occupant of a Toyota motor car were treated for minor injuries after a collision on the Discovery Bay main road Saturday evening.

Other weekend reports included the death of 64-year-old Claudette Thorpe, who was hit by a motor vehicle on the Ocho Rios main road in Content, and the robbery of businessman Christopher Fraser, 64, who police said was held up by two armed men in Hopewell, Hanover, and relieved of his licensed firearm.

A motorcyclist was taken to Linstead hospital in St. Catherine after crashing near the Moneague toll exit on the North-South Highway on Sunday. His motorcycle reportedly struck a sign and caught fire. His condition was not immediately available.

In Rocky Point, Clarendon, residents said high tides and strong winds pushed seawater into yards Saturday night, damaging at least 17 fishing boats and several shops. Councillor Winston Maragh said sand carried by the waves blocked four drains leading to the sea. Fishers, including Glenworth Samuels, appealed for help to replace damaged boats and engines.

Classes were suspended at Ocho Rios High School in St. Catherine after physical education teacher Rushane Beckford, 35, was shot dead Friday in March Pen. Principal Shana Lee Talbert said staff received grief counselling before support is extended to students.

In St. Elizabeth, Superintendent Coleridge Minto urged residents to use the domestic violence intervention centre at the Santa Cruz police station after a deadly family dispute in Stevenson Town near Southfield. He said the parish has recorded 14 murders this year, with about 60 per cent linked to interpersonal or domestic conflicts, and that a suspect is in custody.