Return fire may have saved Jahshii

THE PROBE into the daring birthday gun attack on dancehall artiste Jahshii revealed that return gunfire by a licensed firearm holder may have saved the life of the singer.

Initial reports following the July 7 attack were that Jahshii, whose given name is Mluleki Clarke, and his entourage, came under attack by men travelling on motorcycles, resulting in six members of his convoy nursing gunshot wounds.

The group were reportedly leaving Jahshii's birthday party, which was advertised for club Mecca at Marketplace.

When the gunfire started, Jahshii reportedly ran from the scene along Constant Spring Road unarmed.

It has emerged and been confirmed by The Gleaner, however, that a prominent businessman whose vehicle was fired upon returned fire and engaged the attackers in a shoot-out, staving off what could have been a deadly attack.

The Gleaner understands that the police have since made contact with the businessman after much reluctance to cooperate with the investigation.

Speaking to The Gleaner yesterday, Commander of the St Andrew Central Police Division, Senior Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth, said that the police interviewed the businessman.

“That is not true. We certainly have interviewed that person who you may be referring to,” SSP Nesbeth said regarding assertions that the businessman may not be cooperating with investigators.

SSP Nesbeth did not state when the interview took place. However, Gleaner sources point to questions that were raised within the constabulary as to why the businessman had not reported to the police up to early Monday.

The divisional commander, who noted that he understood the high public interest in the matter, said that the police were working to put together any shortcomings and hoped to get the facts.

“The only concerns we have are with the victims themselves - that they ought to avail themselves for the relevant questions to be asked and statements recorded,” SSP Nesbeth said.

The Gleaner understands that Jahshii was interviewed on the weekend and released.

SSP Nesbeth had publicly made a request for the entertainer to make himself available to the police following the shooting.

This was the second time in recent weeks that the artiste went in after being summoned by the police.

On June 21, Jahshii was questioned and released in relation to incidents that took place in his Grants Pen community.

The police in the St Andrew North Division wanted to speak with Jahshii following the June 7 murder of 45-year-old Omar 'Romie' Wright, which has caused tension in the community.

Wright was killed by unknown assailants in Grants Pen, St Andrew.

Jahshii, allegedly, had a dispute with the deceased on the day he was killed.

The murder reportedly stemmed from an alleged argument the now deceased had with the entertainer's mother.

She has, however, publicly denied those allegations.

Meanwhile, Scene of Crime detectives reportedly collected several spent casings after scouring for hours the area in which the shooting occurred.

Multiple accounts were given as to how the artiste and his entourage managed to escape with non-life-threatening injuries.

“The public needs to know that it was a shoot-out. How come that is the narrative? Then how the truth going reveal? Jahshii dem never just come under attack and escape. There was a shooter on his side. That's the only logic why he escaped and nobody in the vehicle died,” said a source, who requested anonymity.

“The firearm holder is duty bound to give a statement to the police and as is customary, provide the firearm for further ballistic testing,” the source, with firearms training and expertise, continued.

The Gleaner understands that as late as Tuesday, several parties were contacted and are being told to leave the name of the prominent businessman out of the investigation.

The police have since warned promoters to consult with them before booking Jahshii for any event.

Jahshii's attorney, Peter Champagnie, KC, has taken issue with that response from the police and asked publicly if it had been someone from a different social background if the response from the lawmen would have been the same.

The police are continuing their investigations into the early morning attack.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com