March 13, 2025 – The quick response from Portland Police with the assistance of ballistic evidence led to the arrest and charge of two men following the shooting death of a vendor along Boundbrook Cresent in the parish on Tuesday, March 04.
The deceased has been identified as 31-year-old Ryan Smith, a vendor of Ackee Tree lane, Lighthouse road, in Port Antonio.
Charged with Murder, Possession of Prohibited Weapon, Unauthorized Possession of Ammunition and Using a Firearm to Commit a Felony are 27-year-old Andre Smith of Rosemary Close in Newlands and 19-year-old Michael Morris of a Waterford address both in Portmore, St. Catherine.
Reports from the Port Antonio Criminal Investigations Branch are that at about 7:40 a.m. on the aforementioned date, Smith was at his stall when a black Subaru motor car drove up and stopped beside him. Morris, armed with a handgun, alighted and fired several shots in his direction, hitting him all over his body, after which he boarded the said vehicle and they fled the scene. The police were informed of the incident and quickly intercepted the vehicle along the Buff Bay main road as the men tried to escape the parish. The men were taken into custody after a spent casing was found within the car when a search was conducted.
They were charged on Wednesday, March 12, after they were interviewed in the presence of their attorney.
Their court date is being finalised.