COLLEAGUES of a male employee of Television Jamaica (TVJ) expressed shock on Tuesday after he was shot around four times on Tuesday morning in Harbour View, St Andrew, and wished him a speedy recovery.
The male employee was said to have been disarmed and shot with his own licensed firearm by a man believed to be of unsound mind.

“We were shocked to hear the news that our colleague was shot. The exact circumstances remain unclear; however, we are happy to learn that he is not dead and is recovering. Our prayers are with him. Our colleague is a very hard worker who is very committed to his duties. We pray for a speedy recovery,” a male co-worker told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday.

A female colleague, who didn’t wish to be named, said her first thought upon hearing the news was that she hoped he survived.

“I see him on the TVJ compound from time to time and he is always jovial. He works in a different department from me but I felt ‘a way’ when I heard the news. When I found out the identity of the person, I said to myself that he isn’t usually in any conflict with anyone that I know of.

“He doesn’t seem like the type of person who gets into conflict with people. I wish him a speedy recovery. It is just sad that he got caught up in a situation like this. The different work groups on WhatsApp, other co-workers are expressing shock,” she said.

According to a report from the police, the incident occurred minutes before 9:30 am in the vicinity of the intersection of Michael Manley Boulevard and Seashore Boulevard.

The TVJ worker, who is an engineer, was said to have been helping out someone close to him in trying to locate and apprehend the young man believed to be of unsound mind.

The police reported that the young man allegedly experienced a seizure and left his house, despite attempts to prevent him from doing so, and his relatives requested the assistance of the TVJ employee in locating the victim.

The police stated that the young man was located by the TVJ employee and during an attempt to restrain him, the accused disarmed him of his licensed firearm and shot him multiple times including in the neck.

The TVJ employee was taken to the hospital by the police.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael Phipps, who is commander for Police Area 4, which covers Kingston and St Andrew, said on Tuesday that the suspect was captured and the firearm recovered from him.

“He was taken into police custody and will be treated at the Bellevue Hospital and the necessary investigative processes will continue,” said Phipps.