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Another MoBay businessman killed

Published:Thursday | October 22, 2020 | 2:33 PMHopeton Bucknor/Gleaner Writer
Asbert Campbell.
Asbert Campbell.

Fifty-seven-year-old Asbert Campbell, one of the most prominent business figures in the Second City, was gunned down shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday outside of his shop.

Campbell, affectionately called ‘Mr Lee’, was standing outside his Fustic Road establishment when two men armed with handguns walked up to him and opened fire, hitting him multiple times.

The men reportedly ran from the location and escaped on a motorcycle.

When the police arrived on location, Campbell was seen suffering from several gunshot wounds and was rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Yesterday, vendors were still reeling from shock, mourning Campbell, who they described as “a good man”.

“Mr Lee a one a di best man in a Montego Bay. A him send most a wi children dem a school, and him always a give to people. Him don’t deserve fi die like dis,” Precious, a vendor, told The Gleaner.

Dozens of vendors gathered outside of Campbell’s green grocery shop yesterday, calling for greater police presence within the market circle.

Novlette Campbell remembered her brother as loving and kind, adding that he “fathered four children biologically but played the role of father to hundreds of kids within the inner city”.

“Lee a MoBay father,” she muttered as she wept inside the shop.

Novlette said her brother had been operating his business in the area for more than 30 years but had been at this location for just over five years after taking over from their father, who started the family business.

Campbell hosted back-to-school treats, giveaways, and other functions to assist the less fortunate in Montego Bay over the years.

In the wake of the murder, the police carried out a massive operation within the market circle, taking several men into custody for questioning while others were arrested for possession of offensive weapons or penalised for operated illegal taxis.

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