One of six escaped MoBay prisoners shot dead
ST JAMES, Jamaica — One of the six men who escaped from the Freeport police lock-up last month was shot and killed during an alleged gunfight with members of the St James police in the parish.
He has been identified as 21-year-old Benjamin Stephens of Dias, Lucea, Hanover. Stephens was facing a murder charge.
Reports are that, acting upon intelligence, the police went to a remote community in the parish called Burnt Ground where Stephens was said to be hiding out, when they came under heavy gunfire from two men.
The cops took evasive action and returned the fire. When the shooting subsided Stephens was found suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
However, his crony managed to elude the police.
The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has commenced their probe into the incident.
Meanwhile, five other men who escaped custody remain on the run.
They are:
• Kelvin Hodge, 30, labourer of Barnett Town, St James who was charged for four counts of murder.
• Randy Murray, 30, labourer of Landillo, Phase 6, Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland who was charged for illegal possession of firearm.
•Marcus Robinson, 34, higgler of Dome Street, Montego Bay, St James who was charged for illegal possession of firearm.
•Gregory Roberts, otherwise called ‘Greg’, 32 labourer of Maroon Town, St James who was charged for robbery with aggravation.
•Shaniel Luton, 26, of Farm Heights, St James who was convicted of murder and scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, December 4.
Commander of the St James Police Division, SSP Steve McGregor, has vowed to capture the remaining escapees.
“We have assistance from Kingston and from the army and we will continue to go at them,” the divisional commander told the OBSERVER ONLINE.
He also warned family members and friends not to provide a haven for the fugitives.
Reports are that on Monday, November 30, between 4:00 am and 5:00am, the six prisoners escaped from their cell by breaching “the system through faulty plumbing fixtures” in the bathroom area.
The escape of the men has been blamed on negligence.
