80-y-o cook shop operator slain in St James
Published:Friday | December 30, 2022 | 1:09 AMHopeton Bucknor/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
An 80-year-old man was shot dead at a cook shop he operated inside the St Clavers Transport Centre in Montego Bay, St James, on Thursday afternoon.
He has been identified as Lesmore Williams, of a Perry Street address in Montego Bay.
Reports from the Barrett Street police are that about 2:30 p.m., Williams, who also manages the St Clavers Avenue-based transportation hub, was sitting inside his business place, when two men approached him, posing as customers.
It is also reported that one of the men placed an order, but before he could be served, he brandished a handgun and opened fire, hitting Williams multiple times.
The men then fled the area on foot.
Williams was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The death of the elderly businessman came hours after gunmen attacked customers at a supermarket in Moy Hall, St James, injuring two men.
Reports are that about 9 a.m., a motor vehicle drove to the community and its occupants opened fire in the vicinity of the supermarket, hitting the two men.
The injured men were taken to hospital.
At least 182 people have been murdered across the parish of St James since the start of the year. The parish was among eight in which states of emergency were declared on Wednesday in response to high levels of violence.