Cops silent on X5 driver's arrest
Published:Tuesday | July 5, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
A cloud of claims and counterclaims yesterday evening hung over news of the arrest of a man suspected in the killing of 17-year-old Khajeel Mais, who was shot dead last Friday night, allegedly by the driver of a black BMW X5 sport utility vehicle (SUV).
A source close to the investigation told The Gleaner that up to late yesterday, the Constant Spring police were processing the suspect and his vehicle, which was at the station earlier in the day. The Gleaner understands that three men were questioned by the police yesterday and their three X5 SUVs photographed before two of them were released.
"In the scheme of things, it's a little scratch on the vehicle," said another individual, who The Gleaner has chosen not to identify, and who said he had seen the slightly damaged SUV belonging to the main suspect.
However, when the newspaper arrived at the police station, none of the X5s could be seen on the compound.
Investigators at the station, refusing to say whether they had anyone in custody, directed The Gleaner to the Constabulary Communication Network, the information arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
Similarly, JCF Director of Communications Karl Angell told The Gleaner he could not say whether anyone had been held.
"At this time, I have no information to suggest that a person has been taken into custody," Angell said.
Despite the apparent dismissals from JCF officials, the individuals who claimed a suspect had been arrested maintained their stance, suggesting the police were not ready to make the information public.
Reports are that Mais, a student of Kingston College, was travelling in a taxi along Fairfax Avenue in Havendale en route to a fête at his former school, Meadowbrook High, when the cab bumped into the X5.
Hit in head
The driver of the X5 reportedly became angry and retaliated by blocking the road and firing wildly into the taxi. When the taxi driver realised he was under attack, he turned his vehicle around and headed in the opposite direction, but could not outrun the luxury SUV, whose driver shot out his back window, hitting young Mais in the head.
Mais was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he later died. The taxi driver escaped injury.
Since last Friday night, the police have undertaken a massive investigation into the killing and have been reportedly working around the clock to ascertain the identity of the person who was driving the X5.
"We have been taking statements from persons who have been coming forward and who were at the scene at the time and are robustly trying to find the vehicle in question," Angell said.