A suspect in Friday’s murder of 47-year-old police Corporal Christopher Smith was nabbed and taken into custody Wednesday while he tried to slip past immigration officers at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

“I can confirm that one of the suspects is currently in custody. He was trying to leave the island but he wasn’t successful,” Senior Superintendent of Police Stephanie Lindsay told the Jamaica Observer.

Smith, who was assigned to Trench Town Police Station in the Kingston Western Division, was shot dead at the Texaco gas station on Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew.

His suspected killer, who was allegedly headed for The Bahamas, was the second suspect to be nabbed while trying to flee the island within the space of two weeks.

The man will be questioned by detectives but, according to Lindsay, it was too early to say when charges will be laid against him.

“We can just confirm now that he is in custody and that investigations will continue,” said the senior police superintendent, who heads the Constabulary Communication Network.

The Half-Way-Tree Criminal Investigations Branch reported that at 10:54 pm on Friday the corporal drove his private motor car to the petrol station to purchase fuel when he was caught in an armed robbery. One of the robbers shot him several times. He died at hospital during surgery.

The arrest of the suspected cop killer gave some social media users a reason to celebrate and congratulate the authorities for having such a system in place that made the arrest possible.

One Instagram user said, “Well, that was quick. Good work, officers. Jamaica needs to up its system. Too many people getting away with murders and shootings to the point they don’t care or fear the law no more. It’s ridiculous.”

Another Instagram user said, “Very good. If it is you do the crime, go and do the time. Good result.”

On X, formerly known as Twitter, one user described the arrest as “beautiful”.

Another X user took the suspect to task for having the audacity to be at the airport trying to flee.

“Criminals are way too presumptuous in Jamaica because they know it’s easy to get away with crimes there. The audacity of him to be at the airport,” the X user said.

In the aftermath of Smith’s murder, the police high command strongly condemned the killing of the corporal, and extended its deepest condolence to his family, friends and colleagues.

“Corporal Smith’s service and dedication to the JCF and the people of Jamaica will not be forgotten. As we mourn this loss, we call on every Jamaican to reject and condemn the violence that continues to plague our nation,” the high command said.

On Monday last week, the 34-year-old driver of a vehicle that was involved in a fatal crash on Bustamante Highway in Clarendon was held at Norman Manley International Airport trying to flee the island. The driver of the vehicle, which was said to be an illegal taxi, was being pursued by authorities when he crashed in the vicinity of Foga Road. Two of four students who were on-board the taxi died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash while the other two were hospitalised.