Man arrested for role in funeral shooting

A West Kingston man was yesterday arrested and charged with murder and other serious crimes for his alleged role in the deadly attack on mourners attending a funeral at a church in east Kingston recently.

He is Tajay James, popularly known as 'Titty Man'.

According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), James has been charged with three counts each of murder, shooting with intent, wounding with intent, and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

Three persons were killed and six others injured after gunmen, armed with high-powered weapons, sprayed mourners outside King's Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church with bullets on December 10.

"The Criminal Investigation Branch wishes to assure the public that no efforts will be spared to properly investigate these and other serious crimes. We will bring to justice criminal suspects who, by their actions, seek to drive fear and panic in the society," said acting Assistant Commissioner MacArthur Sutherland, who heads the CIB.

Police investigators believe the shooting was a crime of opportunity.

According to investigators, the shooters were targeting a rival gangster from West Kingston who was attending the funeral.