MANCHESTER, Jamaica— Police are trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a man whose body was found on the Blue Mountain to Top Coffee Grove main road in Manchester on Sunday morning.

Up to press time police said they were unable to provide information on the man’s identity. However, residents named the man as Melbourne Gottshalk otherwise called “Junior” a resident of Blue Mountain.

Residents told Observer Online that Melbourne was shot while returning home from a nine-night in the community. They shared that he was attacked by men who were breaking into a community shop.

However, police did not confirm whether the man’s body had gunshot wounds, rather that it had “lacerations and a wound”. Police are awaiting an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Residents identified the man as Melbourne Gottshalk otherwise called “Junior” a resident of Blue Mountain.

Meanwhile, Councillor Mario Mitchell (Bellefield Division, People’s National Party) condemned what he said he believed was murder.
“Blue Mountain is one of those areas and I want to condemn the killing of a young man in the community. Just last week I made a commitment to the police that we will work very closely with them to ensure that murders and acts of violence do not happen in the space. I want to strongly condemn the shooting last night,” said Mitchell.

“The young man who died is an only child for his parents and it is indeed a sad day. We did our community walks. Just recently we had a walk with the police in the Bombay community… I just want to say that we are working closely with all our relevant stakeholders to ensure that the community space is kept [safe],” added Mitchell.

The councillor said the community is a peaceful and quiet farming community.

“It has been a while, years since any form of murder was committed in that community,” said Mitchell.

— Kasey Williams