JAMAICA HAS already seen its first murder of the year with the death of 34-year-old Mark Anthony Grant, labourer of an Orange Street address, downtown Kingston.
According to reports from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), Mr. Grant's body was found by residents in a passageway at his home about 9:30 a.m. yesterday. The Kingston Central police, who are investigating, have not yet established a motive for the killing.
Grant's murder follows the death on New Year's Eve of another labourer, 53-year-old Fitzgerald Henry, otherwise called 'Ranny'.
According to reports, Mr. Henry, who is of a Spanish Town Road address, was standing at his gate when he was pounced upon by gunmen. They opened fire hitting him. He was subsequently taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. As in yesterday's murder, no motive has been established for the December 31 killing.
FINAL MURDER FIGURES
Up to press time, the CCN had not compiled the final murder figures for the year. However, indications are that despite the upsurge in killings immediately after the Christmas holiday, murders have not passed last year's mark of 1,045. There were 971 reported murders up to December 30.
Also on New Year's Day, the police were able to recover a firearm, identified as an Intratech 9mm Luger submachine gun.
According to the CCN, the weapon was seized along with several rounds of ammunition along Lower Ivy Road, Kingston 5, at 12:10 yesterday morning. No arrest was made in connection with the find.
The CCN said a police party was on patrol in the Admiral Town area when, "on reaching Lower Ivy Road, they reportedly came upon a group of men, one of whom threw away an object on seeing the police".
The men fled the area and, when a search was conducted of the area, the weapon with serial number erased and a magazine containing 13 rounds of ammunition were found.
