Two charged for vendor’s murder

The quick response from the 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 Crescent on March 4.

The deceased has been identified as 31-year-old Ryan Smith, a vendor of Ackee Tree lane, Lighthouse Road, in Port Antonio. Andre Smith, 27, of Rosemary Close in Newlands, and 19-year-old Michael Morris of a Waterford address, both in Portmore, St Catherine, charged with murder, possession of prohibited weapon, unauthorised possession of ammunition and using a firearm to commit a felony.

Reports from the Port Antonio Criminal Investigations Branch are that at 7:40 a.m., 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 Smith's direction, hitting him all over his body. He then re-entered the vehicle and 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 March 12, after they were interviewed in the presence of their attorney. Their court date is being finalised.