Gun seized from St James wanted man linked to multiple crimes
Published:Saturday | September 14, 2024 | 12:10 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Deputy Superintendent of Police Linroy Edwards, operations officer for the St James Police Division, has reported that a firearm that was taken from Joseph McKenzie, one of St James’ most wanted men who was captured last month, has been linked to several crimes in the parish.
Addressing Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC), Edwards said that the firearm has been linked to four crimes, separate from the three murders for which McKenzie, otherwise called ‘Gio’, is now charged.
“Two weeks ago, we would have arrested the parish’s most wanted man, Joseph McKenzie, o/c Gio. He was featured in a number of gang situations, murders, shootings, contract killings, etc. We managed to arrest him and recovered a firearm, and he has been arrested on three separate murder charges. Also interesting is that our firearm identification ballistic system identified four other incidents of the gun being used,” said Edwards.
“The gun that he (McKenzie) was found in possession of, it was used or involved in other criminal activities, and we are pursuing those investigations also.”
Edwards continued, “Even though he was one of our most dangerous men, he cooperated and surrendered, he did not resist the police, and we are thankful for that.”
McKenzie, who was listed among St James’ most wanted men in June, was captured by the police on August 25 during an operation along the Harvey Beach in the Coral Gardens community.
He was wanted in connection with the shooting death of 28 year-old shopkeeper Randy McNeil in the Flanker community on April 27, as well as other murders in Flanker, Salt Spring and Flower Hill. His court date has not yet been finalised.
WORKING TO CURB CRIME
DSP Edwards also told Thursday’s meeting that, although the parish continues to have the highest murder tally among Jamaica’s police divisions, law enforcement in St James is working to curb crime, including through involvement with community sporting activities and monitoring of the Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in downtown Montego Bay.
“While we are leading the country as far as reductions in murders are concerned, we are still the number one division in the island as it relates to murder figures,” Edwards said.
“However, with our strategies that we have been tweaking and implementing consistently, we are ambitious in 2025 to remove St James as the most violent police division across the island, and I believe that, based on how we are increasing and improving our efforts, we should achieve and accomplish that.”
According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s crime statistics, St James has recorded 96 of Jamaica’s 806 murders up to September 7 this year, less than the 139 murders recorded in the division out of Jamaica’s 969 murders over the same period in 2023.