Murdered PNP Patriots activist may have known killer

LAW-ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES have refuted claims that political activist Kevin Brown was pulled from his car and shot on Wednesday night along Chesterfield Drive in the western St Andrew community of Seaview Gardens.

The police suspect that the 44-year-old information technology professional, of McIntyre Villa, was assaulted inside his motor vehicle, The Gleaner has learnt.

It is believed that he may have known his attacker(s).

Senior Superintendent Steve McGregor, who is in charge of operations for Area Four and who was a recent stand-in for divisional commander Superintendent Wayne Cameron, in St Andrew South, shed light on the investigations yesterday.

“The information we have doesn’t support that he was dragged from the vehicle and shot. Preliminary reports are that an incident happened in the vehicle and he ran from the vehicle. His body has stab wounds. We are hearing about shots, but it’s more puncture wounds. More investigations are being done.”

McGregor said that while the police were aware of attacks on motorists along Chesterfield Drive, those reports, based on preliminary investigations, have no relation to Brown’s murder.

“There were some extortion activities because there is an area where motorists have to slow down. Police have been placed there over time,” said McGregor.

Calls to Cameron's cell phone went unanswered yesterday.

The police reported that about 8:40 p.m., residents heard someone running and screaming for help.

On their arrival, the police said that Brown, who was a justice of the peace and a founding

'Kevin was instrumental in the formation of the Patriots ... We are losing too many of our bright young minds to crime and violence.'

member of the People’s National Party Patriots movement, was seen suffering from what appeared to be flesh wounds.

He was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A FRIEND LOST

Reacting to the news, Patriots President Omar Newell said that the organisation has lost a friend and a promising young Jamaican.

“Kevin was instrumental in the formation of the Patriots ... We are losing too many of our bright young minds to crime and violence. This is our second tragic loss this year,”said Newell in a statement.

He noted that Patriots member Sashagay Fairclough, an attorney-atlaw, was murdered while travelling in a motor car in Ocho Rios, St Ann, on September 13.

While expressing deep regret at Brown’s murder, Newell called for the Government to take strong action to quell the country’s crime wave.

“The organisation has taken note that both members were murdered in areas outside of states of emergency. These areas do not seem to be covered by the Government’s apparent policy for crime prevention. A comprehensive approach is needed that takes into consideration every Jamaican and every community in Jamaica,”Newell said.