Businessman murdered at hotel Hailed as good citizen
The murder of popular businessman Brandon Murray has shocked the parish of Clarendon, where the late landscaper was revered.
Murray was fatally shot by armed men at the Mayfair Hotel in St Andrew yesterday.
Uphel Purcell, councillor for the York Town Division in Clarendon, said he has known the Murray family for a number of years.
“We actually grew up in the same communities,” he said, noting that the family owns land in various parts of the parish.
He lauded the Murrays for establishing their businesses in the parish and for providing meaningful employment opportunities for persons.
“They are really some good citizens and they are highly respected,” he said. “They are always doing something for people to benefit.”
Murray’s family operates the popular Murray’s Fish and Jerk Hut in Clarendon Park.
According to police reports, an unconfirmed number of men attacked Murray at approximately 4:45 p.m. when he arrived at the hotel, which is located on West Kings House Close.
Murray was shot several times before the men drove away from the location.
Some media reports claim that Murray was shot as many as 14 times.
Murray, 47, of Osborne Store, May Pen, Clarendon, was also a football administrator.
Along with former national player Christopher Dawes, Murray formed the Clarendon-based Sporting Central in 2000.
The team gained promotion to the National Premier League in 2007, becoming the first club to represent Clarendon in top flight Jamaican club football since Hazard United, who moved to St Catherine and was then rebranded as Portmore United.