ST MARY, Jamaica – Detectives, assigned to the St Mary Police Division, charged a 36-year-old man with murder and other firearm-related offences on Thursday.

He is Rayon McNish, otherwise called ‘Roger Blacks’, a higgler of Belfield Pen in the parish.

McNish was charged in relation to the murder of 22-year-old Rayon Prendergast and the injuring of another man. He was also charged with two counts of using a firearm to commit a felony, two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, two counts of unauthorised possession of ammunition, dealing in prohibited weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to injure, two counts of possession of ammunition with intent to injure and shooting with intent.

Reports are that about 2:45 pm, Prendergast and another man allegedly went to a property in the area to pick apples. Upon leaving they were confronted by McNish. It is alleged that McNish pulled a firearm from his waistband and opened fire hitting Prendergast.

The police were alerted, and Prendergast was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other man escaped injuries.

The incident was reported to the police and during the investigation, an operation was carried out on McNish’s premises and one 9mm Springfield armoury firearm, one magazine and twenty-eight 9mm rounds of ammunition were found in his possession.

He was taken into custody and charged on Friday.