Police are actively searching for two suspects after a deadly shooting on King Street in Montego Bay, St. James, on Tuesday. One suspect reportedly exchanged gunfire with officers when they arrived at the scene of the triple murder.
During the confrontation, two firearms were reportedly seized. The suspects have been identified as John Roach and Kasheem Lewis. Roach is also a person of interest in a previous shooting incident.
The suspects are wanted in connection with the murders of 26-year-old Rashaun Antanio Williams, 17-year-old student Jaydon Verrol Bennett, and 62-year-old fisherman David West, all residents of King Street in the parish.
Superintendent (SP) Eron Samuels, Commander of the St. James Police Division, stated that law enforcement received reports of a shooting in the Upper King Street area around 5:00 pm. When officers responded, Roach engaged them in a shootout and then escaped into a gully, leaving behind two weapons. During the investigation, officers found Williams on the main road with gunshot wounds to his face and upper body, Bennett on a bridge with wounds to his neck, and West in his yard with gunshot wounds to his face.
The victims were transported to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
“Operations are still ongoing to capture John Roach. The team is currently in the area, and we will continue pursuing him until he is found,” SP Samuels said following the incident.
He added that a search of the gully began on Tuesday night and would continue until Wednesday morning.
“We believe he jumped into the gully, and we are uncertain if he was injured during the escape,” Samuels said.
“We will continue to pursue John Lee Roach and his associates to ensure safety and security are restored to the Canterbury community and the wider St. James area,” he added.
