St James businessman, security guard murdered near MoBay police station

The St James Police have detained two men for questioning in connection with this morning's murder of a Montego Bay businessman and his security guard.

The men were killed in an attempted robbery outside a bank opposite the Church Street Police Station in St James.

Kenneth Li otherwise called 'Kenny' the owner and operator of Cash Smart Supermarket on Barnett Street and his security guard Carl Reid had just driven up the bank to deposit money when they were approached by men dressed in hoodies with handkerchiefs around their faces.

The men reportedly walked up to Li's mini van and demanded that he hands over the cash to them.

Li is said to have been attempting to drive away when the gunmen opened fire killing him and his security guard.

The businessman then crashed into another bus.

One of the masked gunmen reportedly escaped in a waiting car while the other ran from the location onto Market Street. 

The Opposition has raised fresh concern about murders in St James, now under a State of Public Emergency.

Last week another man was killed in Ironshore in the western parish.

"This is deeply disturbing as murders are being committed in an area where an SOE has been declared for nearly two years," said Opposition Spokesman on National Security Fitz Jackson.

According to Jackson, in February alone, 123 persons were murdered in Jamaica, that's 13 more than the 110 homicides recorded in January.

This has put the murder tally at 233 since the start of the year compared with 209 for the similar period last year. 

He said the Police Commissioner should explain why he has not been effective in controlling the situation in Montego Bay.

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.