Police fatally shoot armed man in Thornton as Kingston arrests and Portland child death draw calls for action

Police in St. Elizabeth fatally shot Dwart Ferguson, also known as Dwayne Ant and Tavy, during a targeted firearms operation in Thornton on Friday night. Officers said they went to the community around 9:30 p.m. with a warrant under the Firearms Act. Ferguson was reportedly standing at the front of a house before running inside and closing the door. After he allegedly refused to open it, the door was forced open. Police said he then emerged from a bathroom with a gun in his hand and moved toward them despite orders to drop the weapon, which was pointed at the team. Fearing for their lives, an officer shot him three times. Ferguson was later pronounced dead at Black River Hospital. A 9mm pistol with no visible serial number and a magazine containing five cartridges were allegedly recovered.

In Kingston, 41-year-old Dean Stewart of Mona Commons, Kingston 6, was charged after police found a semi-automatic pistol with five rounds of ammunition tucked between his legs while he was shopping in his wheelchair inside a supermarket on Hold Road on Wednesday about 12:30 p.m. He was taken to the Half-Way Tree Police Station and charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of unauthorised ammunition. Investigators said Stewart, an amputee, is well known in the area and is frequently seen soliciting money from members of the public.

Separately, Michael Wright, also called Miguel, who was featured on the police wanted list on Wednesday, was captured on Friday during an early morning operation by members of a specialised operations team at a house on Delano Avenue, Kingston 11. He was wanted on charges of common-law assault and possession of a prohibited weapon and was found in the company of a woman.

In Mandeville, a dreadlocked man is believed to have fallen to his death while picking pears on another person's property on Jackson Drive overnight. The homeowner found him on his back beneath a pear tree on Saturday morning. Police had not yet confirmed his identity. Detectives observed several canvas bags filled with pears near the body and a broken tree branch. He was clad in grey sweatpants, a brown sweater, and a red undershirt. The incident has been classified as death by misadventure.

Chad Campbell, 25, a labourer of Yon, St. Catherine, was charged with murder on Friday after allegedly fatally stabbing his 23-year-old nephew Lamar Mullins, also of Yon, during a dispute over television volume while watching a World Cup football match. The incident occurred about 8:00 p.m. on June 17 at Campbell's home. Mullins was taken to Linda Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A court date is being finalised for Campbell's appearance.

Portland Eastern Member of Parliament Isa Buchanan has appealed to the police to move swiftly in their investigation into the death of 12-year-old Crystal McClean, whose decomposed body was found in a gully on Wednesday. Crystal, a student at Port Antonio High School, was reported missing on June 12. Police said a high alert was issued on Monday, June 15, after efforts to locate her were unsuccessful. She was last seen at home around 7:00 a.m. The discovery was made shortly after midday when persons rafting at the rear of the gully stumbled upon the partially submerged body and alerted the police. A bag containing clothing and school books was found nearby. Police are awaiting post-mortem results to determine the cause of death. Buchanan pledged to assist the family with funeral arrangements and urged parents, educators, community leaders, and officials to do more to protect children.

People's National Party leader Mark Golding said he asked the party's MPs and senators whether any were under Integrity Commission investigation for illicit enrichment and was told none were. He noted that declaration reviews often involve routine requests for supporting documents, which he distinguished from formal enrichment probes.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Jamaica must position itself not only as an exporter of talent but also as a destination for skilled workers if the economy is to grow. He argued that safety, governance, connectivity, and opportunity are the same factors that attract tourists, investors, and professionals choosing where to build careers and futures.