Fantan Mojah dies at 49; police lay rape and firearm charges against St Thomas musician

Reggae singer Fantan Mojah has died at age 49, reportedly on Tuesday evening at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, after complications linked to his heart. The Rastafarian performer died about three weeks before his 50th birthday.

A close associate told interviewers the artiste’s condition worsened quickly in the days leading up to his death. “Since him come back from the United States, he was healthy, but over the past week him start to take down and was admitted to UC,” booking agent Vertigo said. “Last night, he was vomiting blood, and that was it. Him passed away.”

Fantan Mojah was reportedly preparing for an appearance at this year’s Reggae Sumfest in Germany. Reports said he is the father of at least three children and had battled health challenges in recent years, including time spent with friends in Portmore as he became increasingly unwell.

In July 2024, he was hospitalised in Martinique after breathing difficulties and chest tightness, with reports at the time indicating his heart was operating at roughly 15 per cent capacity. By early 2025, he appeared to be improving, according to the reports.

In another development, police have charged 61-year-old Kievan McCloon, a musician of Knights Ville in Yallahs, St Thomas, following allegations involving two teen girls. Investigators said the 14- and 15-year-old were assaulted on multiple occasions and were given money afterward.

Police further alleged that McCloon met with one of the girls, held a gun to her head, and threatened to harm her and her family if his demands were not met. Reports said that about 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, he took both girls to a guest house in Montego Bay, where the alleged assault occurred again, after which the girls reportedly attacked and stabbed him several times, prompting him to run away.

The incident was reported and the girls were later arrested, police said. After further enquiries, McCloon was also taken into custody and subsequently charged with rape, sexual intercourse with a person under 16 years, use of a firearm to commit a scheduled offence, and common assault. His court date is still being finalised.

Meanwhile, an 87-year-old man identified as Cassiano Eldin, known as “Cassie,” reportedly died after a fire destroyed his home in Top Melbourne, Montego Bay, during the early hours of Wednesday. Reports said residents noticed flames shortly after 2:00 a.m. and contacted the Jamaica Fire Brigade; two units from the Montego Bay station responded, and remains were found during cooldown. Police removed the body for a post-mortem as investigators work to determine the cause.

In Kingston, the Kingston Western police said they are maintaining close monitoring in sections of Tivoli Gardens following reports that West Kingston Member of Parliament Desmond McKenzie was affected by pepper spray at the Darling Street police station on Tuesday morning. Accounts said McKenzie and others went to the station after an early-morning incident in Tivoli Gardens in which a man was shot.

McKenzie said he was told residents believed the wounded man was being neglected, while police said residents restricted officers from leaving the community, preventing medical care — a claim McKenzie denied. He said he helped to engage the parties and the injured man was later taken to hospital.

Reports also said tensions rose as residents wanted to protest near the corner of Darling Street, and a dispute followed between an officer and a woman in the crowd. The report said the woman moved behind McKenzie and, as he tried to speak to an approaching officer, he was pepper sprayed. The Jamaica Labour Party later said McKenzie was doing well and would undergo a precautionary medical consultation.

Police, however, stated McKenzie was affected by pepper spray as officers tried to arrest a woman accused of assaulting police, and said more than 200 protesters were present. Police also reported that around 6:00 a.m., a special team conducted an operation along Bustamante Avenue in Tivoli Gardens searching for two brothers wanted in relation to the murder of Andel Smith in the Kingston Western division.

During that operation, police said they received information about armed men along Bustamante Highway, leading to an encounter and an exchange of gunfire involving a 24-year-old suspect known by the alias “Top Notch.” Police said he ran but was later found with gunshot wounds, taken into custody, and an illegal Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol with a magazine containing four rounds was found nearby. He was taken to hospital and remains under police guard.

Separately, police reported that SSP McCullah, acting commander for Area 3, briefed Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake on “Operation Reset,” saying murders, shootings and aggravated assaults were trending upward while acquisitive crime was down by 104. The update included figures stating 2023 ended with murders under 189, 2024 with 150, 2025 with 94, and year-to-date at 58, along with a report that four firearms were seized over a 24-hour period after the operation launched on June 19.

Also in the corporate area, Deputy Mayor of Kingston Lorna Dobson said the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation continues to drive compliance on signage and billboards, reporting that 140 businesses were engaged across eight commercial locations. She said compliance moved from 9 per cent before visits to 53 per cent after intervention, and that about $3.96 million was collected in signage fees.