St Catherine shootings, St Ann crash and Clarendon fishermen lead Jamaica news update

Several major incidents were reported across Jamaica on Tuesday, June 9, including deadly shootings in St Catherine, a fatal road crash in St Ann, three missing Clarendon fishermen, power disruptions and a warning from Tax Administration Jamaica about online scams.

In St Catherine, Bog Walk Gorge was closed after what was reported as a confrontation between police and alleged gunmen. Four men were said to have been killed and a police officer injured. Drivers were urged to use other routes, including the north-south highway toll road or Sligoville, until further notice.

Detectives from the Major Investigation Division are also investigating a double murder in Waterford, Portmore, where 26-year-old Antoine Reed, also called Junior and Gong, and 26-year-old Shahid Roach, also known as Sid, were killed on Monday night. Two others, including a 17-year-old student, were wounded after a gunman reportedly got out of a green vehicle and opened fire at Longwood Road and Dessa Road about 10:30 p.m. Councillor Dr Fenley Douglas said the community had gone more than a year without a violent incident and urged residents to assist police.

In St Ann, 22-year-old Jamar Jarrett and 25-year-old Tajay Malcolm, both of Discovery Bay, died after a Suzuki Swift and a Toyota Coaster bus collided near Dolphin Cove on the Dunn’s River main road about 8:30 p.m. Monday. Another passenger was admitted in serious condition, while the bus driver was also treated. The Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch is investigating.

Three Rocky Point fishermen, 17-year-old Jerome Wright, 24-year-old Cecil Thompson and 42-year-old Andre Lewis, remain missing after reportedly leaving for the Pedro Cays last Thursday. Relatives said rough weather has hampered search efforts.

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz said he received JPS’s preliminary report on last Friday’s islandwide blackout and requested further information after new outages. JPS said a Tuesday disruption linked to gas supply loss at South Jamaica Power Company units was restored for affected customers.

TAJ also warned the public to avoid fraudulent websites and messages pretending to collect traffic-ticket payments or tax information, stressing that online business should be done only through www.jamaicatax.gov.jm.