Dancehall artiste Jashii makes contact with cops after early June murder
Published:Thursday | June 22, 2023 | 1:43 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
THE ST Andrew North police say tensions are high in the Grants Pen community following a June 7 murder, but they are proceeding diligently with their investigations and expecting to make headway soon.
According to investigators, the tension in the area is a result of the murder of Omar ‘Romie’ Wright, 45. The police have also indicated that entertainer Jashii, whose legal team made contact with them, is expected to undergo a question-and-answer session soon.
The police on Tuesday expressed an interest in speaking with the dancehall artiste.
Jashii, given name, Mluleki Clarke, is resident of the area but has reportedly been advised to be careful.
“Jashii, basically, get basket fi carry water. When it’s your peers (supposedly involved) and dem wicked you can’t blame anyone but yuhself,” said a senior policeman who requested anonymity.
The senior crime fighter told The Gleaner that a lot of information swirling in the media about the incident and the entertainer’s mother is not true.
“But I can tell you the story. Ninety per cent of the story in the media, nothing go so – people are simply using some incident and situations and sweeten them – some things that happen from time immemorial and sweeten them and create a narrative, but it’s early days. Investigations are ongoing, and tensions are high. We are just doing what we have to do,” the senior investigator said.
He said all the players involved are known to the police.
“Nobody. None of the players are not saints in no way, shape or form. However, certain things (in the public sphere) are not accurate,” the senior cop told The Gleaner yesterday.
The police said they were asking persons to be patient and allow the professionals to probe the matter thoroughly.
It has been reported elsewhere that Jashii could assist the police with information about the death of Wright.
Wright was reportedly killed on Shortwood Road about 10:40 p.m. on June 7 by armed men.
There are reports that Jashii’s mom, who is a vendor, had an altercation with Wright earlier the same day, during which he threw water in her face.
Unconfirmed reports are that Jashii and the now deceased were subsequently involved in an argument some time before he was killed.
A resident who spoke to The Gleaner yesterday said tensions were high because of the information or misinformation being circulated in the community and on social media.
“The people dem a say Romie brother who live overseas send how much thousands of dollar fi seek revenge. So that is what everyone is looking out for, and they say is after the funeral the place a go get ugly,” a resident told The Gleaner.
Efforts to reach divisional commander for the St Andrew North Police Division, Superintendent Tamika Service, proved unsuccessful.
However, since the start of the year, the St Andrew North Police Division has recorded a 28 per cent reduction in murders up to June 16.
According to information published by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), 23 murders were committed compared to 32 for the corresponding period last year.
Shootings in the division are also down, with one less compared to the period in 2022.