Thu | Mar 28, 2024

St Catherine man arrested, charged with murder after five years on the run

Published:Friday | October 30, 2020 | 8:21 PM
Twenty-nine-year-old Travis Sawyers has been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, wounding with intent, shooting with intent, robbery with aggravation, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

A St Catherine man who was on the run for five years has been with charged with murder and several gun offences.

Twenty-nine-year-old Travis Sawyers otherwise called ‘Chembe’ of Bamboo Ridge district has also been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, wounding with intent, shooting with intent, robbery with aggravation, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The charges relate to the 2015 killing of Teno Smith of Old Harbour, St Catherine in a illegal firearms deal that went awry.

The Portmore police say on Saturday, May 23, 2015, Smith and two other men agreed to meet Sawyers in Bartons, St Catherine to buy an illegal firearm.

According to the police, the transaction went awry when Smith was attacked by Sawyers and his cronies.

Sawyers allegedly robbed Smith of the cash agreed for the purchase.

Smith and another man were also shot and injured.

They were taken to hospital, where Smith was pronounced dead.

The other man was treated and released.

The third person had managed to escape unharmed.

The police say a day later, Smith’s body was found by passers-by in bushes in Bannister, St Catherine.

Investigations led to the arrest of two of Sawyers’ accomplices, who are currently before the Home Circuit Court.

Sawyers, who had been on the run since the incident, was apprehended on Wednesday, October 28 in an intelligence-led operation at his home in Bamboo Ridge, St Catherine.

His court date is being finalised.

"Regardless of how long these investigations take, we will continue to pursue them and bring the perpetrators to justice," said a police spokesperson in a statement.

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