Slickianna’s suspected killer shot dead by cops

Rushawn Patterson, the man charged in connection with the 2022 murder of Aneka 'Slickianna' Townsend, was allegedly killed during a confrontation with the police in Hanover on Tuesday morning.

Patterson was shot and killed inside his bedroom at his parents' Dundee Pen home at approximately 6:30 a.m. The circumstances surrounding his killing are currently unknown, however, a close relative disputed the police's claim that there was a confrontation.

"There was no confrontation. Dem wake him up out of his bed and shot him," said the relative.

During a visit to the residence on Tuesday afternoon, THE STAR team was shown the bedroom used by Patterson. His family had already taken off his bed's sheet, but the five gunshot holes in the walls revealed a sombre tale. There were also two gunshot holes in a glass window and verandah wall.

It was revealed that Patterson was at home with his mother and son when the incident took place. Details of what happened on Tuesday morning are yet to be released by the police. Patterson was on conditional bail awaiting his next court appearance on October 15. He was reportedly granted bail due to an undisclosed illness. But well-placed sources said he has been attracting the attention of law-enforcement officers in western Jamaica due to alleged criminal activities. However, he was never arrested.

Patterson was arrested on November 2, 2022, during a high-level police operation, after Townsend's body was found floating in the sea in Reading, St James, on October 21 that year. A post-mortem examination on November 5 determined that Townsend was strangled, and Patterson was formally charged with her murder on November 11.

According to police reports, Townsend travelled from Kingston to Montego Bay on October 20, 2022, and was later picked up by Patterson, following which they visited a restaurant in Hanover and a guest house in St James. During that night, an argument developed between the two, following which Townsend was strangled and her body disposed of.

When Townsend's mother Joy Smith heard the news of Patterson's death, she, along with close relatives and friends travelled to Dovecot Cemetery to celebrate the news by her daughter's graveside.

"The police texted me and told me what happened, and it maybe cannot bring her back, but at least I got justice," Smith said.

"I was waiting for justice, and now, I finally got it. I never wanted him (Patterson) to get sentenced to eat taxpayers' money, and I was never sure he would get sentenced either, so I am sure now that I got my justice," Smith added. "Mi never want to rejoice over a death, but this death here, mi haffi rejoice."