Chef’s murder a suspected hit

A go-getter gone too soon. That’s the general sentiment of friends and family overcome with grief on learning that budding entrepreneur, family man, and former Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Corporal Frederick Beckford was murdered late Tuesday.

Beckford was killed when armed men opened fire on him at his home at Calabar Mews, Kingston 20.

Beckford, 35, is the owner of Jae’s Knife and Fork restaurant, located on Constant Spring Road.

The establishment remained closed on Wednesday.

Reports from the Constant Spring police are that Beckford arrived home about 9:20 p.m. when he was pounced upon.

His attackers escaped in a waiting motor vehicle.

The police were summoned, and Beckford was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Childhood friend Petagaye Patrick told The Gleaner that she grew up with Beckford in St Mary.

“He was a go-getter person. Nothing was considered hard for him. He loved to cook from a tender age. His mother owned a cook shop in Lebanon Square, where she catered for the school and the community, and oftentime, he was there to assist her,” Patrick said.

Patrick said she and others would miss the energy and vibe the St Mary high alum had.

“He never forget where he came from and always wanted to give a hand whatever way he could. Even with the opening of his restaurant, he preferred to employ people from his community,” Patrick told T he Gleaner.

She said one of his favourite phrases was a reminder to others to never forget ‘from whence they came’.

Reportedly, Beckford served 13 years in the JDF before he followed his heart and ventured into opening his own restaurant.

The Gleaner was told that his parents and siblings, who currently reside overseas, were struggling to come to terms with the news of his death.

Residents shocked

Residents of Calabar Mews were also shocked by the nature of the attack and told The Gleaner that their community was not used to such incidents.

“Crime happens just about everywhere but not in here. This is a peaceful neighbourhood. We are saddened by the death of the promising young man. His killers should be brought to justice,” one resident said.

A woman, who claimed to be the mother of Beckford’s young child, took to social media, declaring that their daughter needed her father.

Superintendent Tamika Service, divisional commander for the St Andrew North Police, said yesterday that the chef, seemingly, had been targeted.

“At this time, investigation is ongoing. There is nothing new at this time ... . Based on the fact that as he drove home, he was approached by two men who fired shots at him, I am not sure you classify that as a hit, which we do ... . What was reported to us is that the men were actually waiting on him to reach, as soon as he reach home they pounced on him firing several shots, hitting him,” Service told T he Gleaner.

The Corporate Communications Unit confirmed the reports.

The latest major crime statistics released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force show that murder in the division as at June 24 is declining by as much as 30.3 per cent.

Since the start of the year, 23 murders have been recorded when compared to 33 for the same period in 2022.

Shootings, injured persons, and break-ins in the Corporate Area police division are also down.

Robberies have shown a 10 per cent increase and reports of rape are on par with last year’s figures.

The national murder tally stands at 628, a 13 per cent reduction year on year.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com