Weekend Jamaica roundup: Trelawny police shooting, St. Andrew murder, Burn Savannah curfew protest

Three men were shot during an alleged confrontation with police in Hague, Trelawny, on Saturday night, leaving one dead and two others hospitalised under police guard. Reports indicate that sometime after 8:00 p.m., the men were travelling in a Toyota Probox when they reportedly exchanged gunfire with officers. After the shooting stopped, all three were found with gunshot wounds. One was pronounced dead at hospital; the other two were admitted. A police source said the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is investigating.

In St. Andrew, police are searching for masked gunmen who killed 59-year-old car-wash operator Samuel Foster, also known as Alex, at his business on Central Avenue on Saturday night. About 8:15 p.m., a grey Toyota Axio carrying three occupants, two wearing ski masks, stopped. Two men spoke briefly with Foster, took his licence, then shot him. He ran, collapsed, and died. Officers found him in a pool of blood with apparent upper-body gunshot wounds. The scene was processed and the body sent for post-mortem. No motive has been established.

A 33-year-old man, Damani Stewart of Pink Lane, Kingston, died on Saturday after suspected electrocution while picking breadfruit around 1:30 p.m. Police said material he was using became entangled with live wires. He was taken to Kingston Public Hospital and pronounced dead. Denham Town police are investigating.

Kingston music producer Hugh Price, 47, was sentenced last Friday to 15 years’ imprisonment on possession counts and life imprisonment for stockpiling prohibited weapons after a December 28, 2023 police–military search at his Grants Pen Drive, Kingston 8, home uncovered eight imitation guns. He was convicted in the Supreme Court on February 10 on eight counts linked to the find. Price told investigators the items were props for music videos and that he had no permit. He may apply for parole after 10 years. A senior attorney-at-law called the outcome a travesty of justice under the Firearms Act, urged state intervention, and cited the Privy Council’s Tafari Morrison ruling upholding a 15-year minimum in a similar matter. The lawyer also noted that Minister Chuck has said the law will be amended.

In Spalding, Clarendon, a teenager was charged with housebreaking and larceny after $83,000 was stolen from a home on May 12. The complainant returned to find a damaged kitchen window and missing cash. Latent prints were lifted from the glass. On May 14, the girl’s mother returned $49,000 and reported that the teen admitted the break-in. The juvenile was charged on Friday, granted bail, and released to her mother’s custody.

Thirty-two-year-old Moya Shaw was charged with infanticide in connection with the death of her four-month-old baby. Police said the incident occurred on April 18 about 9:00 p.m. at a Kingston 2 address. Shaw, a mother of six, allegedly threw the infant to the ground several times, causing fatal injuries, then wrapped the child and left with an 18-month-old. Residents alerted police after the body was found. The next morning, officers rescued another child after reports along Orange Street; Shaw later fled Admiral Town Police Station but was later held in the St. Andrew Central area. The Child Protection and Family Services Agency was engaged. She is due in the St. Andrew Parish Court on June 1.

Residents and business operators in Burn Savannah, Clarendon, protested on Friday, May 15, over a 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. curfew they say has blocked livelihoods and slowed recovery after Hurricane Melissa. They said police confronted a candlelight gathering linked to a motorcycle crash, ordered people to leave, and used pepper spray, affecting a child. Protesters accused officers of aggressive behaviour and said the community needs economic relief and fair policing. Police have not commented in the account reviewed.