Jamaica News Roundup: Spur Tree Crash, Rockfort Police Shooting And Spanish Town Lottery Scam Arrest

Several major incidents were reported across Jamaica on Sunday, May 31, 2026, including a serious crash on Spur Tree Hill, a fatal police shooting in Rockfort, a Spanish Town lottery scam arrest, and the search for two Old Harbour Bay fishermen.

In Manchester, two men were taken to hospital after a truck carrying rice overturned on the Spur Tree Hill main road on Saturday, shortly after 4:00 p.m. Police said the passenger’s right arm was severed after the driver lost control and the vehicle left the roadway, entered a property and overturned. The truck was later looted, with several bags of rice removed.

Fabian Brown, an account manager at Beryllium Limited, has been flown to Atlanta, Georgia, for specialised treatment after an explosion at a garage on South Camp Road in Kingston near the company’s facility. His spouse, who gave her name as Maisha, accompanied him and said she would remain with him during recovery. Two other burn victims had previously been flown to the United States, while another man died from his injuries.

In St. Catherine, police arrested a 30-year-old man during a Friday morning anti-lottery scam operation in Spanish Town. Detectives said an Apple MacBook, an SD card and an iPhone 17 were seized, and that preliminary checks found personal information for overseas residents. He was held on suspicion of breaches of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act.

Portland police have charged a 78-year-old licensed firearm holder with assault at common law and using a firearm to commit a scheduled offence after an alleged May 23 confrontation. Investigators said the retiree threatened a man and pressed his licensed firearm against him.

Relatives are also seeking help to find Old Harbour Bay fishermen Marlon Carnegie and Nigel Nicholson, who reportedly left for the Pedro Cays on Sunday and have not been heard from since. Kerry-Ann Spencer, Carnegie’s spouse, believes they may have run out of fuel.

The Health and Wellness Ministry is urging Jamaicans to limit exposure to Saharan dust, warning that it can worsen asthma, allergies, respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cause eye and skin irritation.

In Rockfort, police said 35-year-old Roger Lawrence, also called Dada, was killed during a Friday operation on Rustin Road. A 9mm pistol with one live round was reportedly recovered. Police alleged he was linked to the Scheme Gang and the Fitzgerald Avenue gang, and said he had been deported from the United States in November 2025.

At the Spanish Town JUTC terminal on Saturday, a compressed natural gas bus was destroyed by fire after passengers and the driver had left the vehicle. No injuries were reported.