By Nagra Plunkett , Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
HOPETON BROWN, also known as 'Sando-khan', the Jamaican featured on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Ten Most Wanted list, was fatally shot by the police in Lilliput, St. James on Sunday.
Brown, who hailed from the inner-city community of Canterbury in Montego Bay, was allegedly cut down during a shoot-out with the lawmen.
According to the FBI's website, a reward of US$50,000 was being offered for information on the 30-year-old "considered armed and extremely dangerous." United States authorities were seeking him for his alleged involvement in drug-related activities, murder and attempted murder.
SEVERAL ALIASES
The FBI stated that he had as many as 10 aliases and that he had ties in the U.S. states of Florida, Minnesota, Connecticut, Califor-nia; England and Jamaica. The Jamaican police reportedly wanted Brown for the murders of two men, who were gunned down in the Mount Salem area in early January 2001.
At press time, information from the Montego Bay police was that personnel from the Fugitive Apprehension Team and United States Marshals were en route to the island to view Brown's remains.
A modified Carbon 15 pistol, one Colt Mack Four Series 80 .45 automatic pistol, three motor cars, a green mask and an assortment of ammunition were also recovered in Sunday's shooting. A second man was detained in the same incident and has been charged with illegal possession of firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and shooting with intent. His identity is being withheld as he is expected to face identification parades for crimes including armed robberies and shootings.
POLICE OPERATION
Assistant Superintendent Dave Hyman told The Gleaner that members of the St. James police, the Area One Flying Squad and the Area One Operations Unit went to the Lilliput area sometime after 11:00 am Sunday, in an attempt to locate suspects in the shooting death of an 18-year-old man at a dance in nearby Barrett Town, about 2:30 a.m. that same morning.
Reports are that the police team came under heavy gunfire on their approach to a house in the area. The lawmen reportedly took cover and returned the fire. Following the shooting, Brown was found suffering from gunshot wounds.
The Carbon 15 pistol-serial number B27294- which was fitted with an M-16 magazine, containing 16 live rounds, was reportedly recovered from him, along with seven M-16 spent shells. He was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A search of the house turned up the second man and .45 pistol, bearing the number FC18032E, with five live rounds.
