Police probe deadly shootings in Spanish Town, St James and Kingston amid anti-scamming arrests

Police are probing a series of major crime incidents across Jamaica, including a triple murder in Spanish Town, a fatal shooting in St. James and the death of a former policeman after an alleged taxi robbery in Kingston.

In St. Catherine, three people died after gunmen attacked a group along Colledge Road in Spanish Town about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Two victims were named as 27-year-old businessman Akeem Smith and Barton Stewart. Police said a third male victim also died, but his name was not yet available. A 21-year-old woman was also injured while reportedly inside her home. Stewart was pronounced dead at Spanish Town Hospital, while two injured men later died. Investigators have not established a motive.

In Maroon Town, St. James, 27-year-old labourer Tenoy Steven, also called Boxhead, of Phoenix Road, was shot by unknown assailants about 6:10 p.m. Wednesday and later pronounced dead at hospital. The killing comes as St. James police report 30 murders up to May 31, compared with 22 for the same period last year.

In Kingston, 34-year-old Mark Roby of Lincoln Road was fatally shot by police on Camp Road after allegedly taking a taxi at gunpoint. Police said an illegal firearm and a magazine with nine 9mm rounds were recovered. The taxi operator had reportedly picked him up at Duke Street and North Street before an argument on Marescaux Road. Police said Roby fired at officers after the vehicle crashed, and they returned fire. He was described as a former Jamaica Constabulary Force member dismissed before completing probation.

Separately, police seized a Glock 43 pistol and two 9mm rounds in Melbourne, St. James, on May 29. In Manchester, anti-lottery scamming operations led by DSP Dave Brown resulted in 11 arrests, three charges, cash seizures of J$3,061 and US$2,380, and three vehicles seized. In St. Mary, Kelvin Patrick Estine, 46, was fined J$165,000 after pleading guilty to ganja offences linked to a traffic stop on Cambridge main road.