Last Updated on March 4, 2020, 2:22 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Two men were into custody by the St James police yesterday. The custody of the men was followed by a shocking mid-morning incident in which a famous Chinese businessman and his personal bodyguard were shot and killed outside a bank near the Church Street Police Station in Montego Bay.
The dead men were identified as Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Li, who was the operator of the Barnett Street-based Cash Smart Supermarket, and Carl Reid who happened to be his bodyguard.
Another Chinese national who was also in the vehicle along with the deceased has reportedly sustained injuries but managed to stay alive through the attack.
A taxi operator told that He was shocked when he saw the boys point guns at the Chinese nationals and when they did so, everyone started running for cover.
He added that it was shocking to see that the entire thing happened right in front of a] police station and not even a single policeman came out after the shots were fired.
According to police reports, at about 11 a.m., Li, Reid and the other man headed on their way towards the bank to deposit money, and the bank is located at the corner of King and Church streets.
As soon as they stopped near to the bank, two men dressed in hoodies, with handkerchiefs tied around their faces to act as a mask, walked up to the minivan of the Chinese businessman and pointed their handguns at the men while demanding for money.
It is being said that Li, was driving the vehicle and he reportedly attempted to steer away from there but the men opened fire on them.
The minivan crashed into another vehicle, which left them at the mercy of shooters, who continued firing at them.
An onlooker said that one of the gunmen later reached into the crashed vehicled and took out a knapsack believed to be full of cash.
The shooters then escaped in a car which was already waiting for them and left Li and Reid for dead in the blood-soaked vehicle.
The shooting has occurred at a time when downtown Montego Bay had been enjoying a break from violent crime happily.
While most severe and violent crimes are on the decline in the area, still; the number of murders has climbed by 11.5 per cent by the end of February. Two hundred and thirty-three people have been victims of murder up to last Saturday.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
