Back-to-back murders rock MoBay
Published:Saturday | February 19, 2022 | 12:11 AMHopeton Bucknor/Gleaner Writer
Detectives attached to the Freeport and Barnett Street police stations in Montego Bay, St James, have launched probes into Friday morning’s back-to-back daylight murders of two men in separate incidents in the Second City.
The victims have been identified as Honey Stevens, otherwise called ‘Mignit’, a juice vendor from Petersfield in Westmoreland, and 35-year-old Champai Magarth Reid, a businessman of an Ironshore address in St James.
Reports are that about 8 a.m., Stevens was inside the Montego Bay Transport Centre selling juice, when he was approached by a man with whom he had an altercation.
The man reportedly brandished a handgun and opened fire, hitting Stevens multiple times before fleeing on foot.
While processing that scene, detectives were alerted to another shooting outside the Jamaica National Bank in Catherine Hall, where Reid was attacked.
According to police reports, the businessman was seated inside his car outside the bank, when a group of men drove on to the compound.
The men alighted and opened gunfire at Reid’s car, chasing him as he ran from the vehicle.
Reid died on the spot. His licensed firearm, which he had with him, was not stolen.
“I just alighted from a taxi and was walking towards the bank to do some business when I hear the gunshots and see two men chasing the man who is now dead,” an elderly eyewitness told The Gleaner.
“I am a returning resident and it comes as a shock to me to see people just taking other people lives like this,” she continued. “I had to run back towards the roadway, and I nearly got hit by a car, but all I want to know is that I did not get caught up in this kind of thing.”
Up to late yesterday, the police were yet to make a breakthrough in either case.
“We have seen an increase in murders since the start of February, and so far the police have not come up with a motive for these two murders today,” an investigator told our newsroom.
The officer said over the past 18 days, at least nine persons have been murdered in the parish of St James, bringing the total to 39 since the start of the year.