The murder of the leader of a revival healing church in St Ann early Sunday morning, has sent shockwaves through the church’s membership and the general population in St Ann.
Dead is Archbishop Delroy Bingham of the Valley Spiritual Healing Temple in Harrison Town, Ocho Rios, St Ann. He lived in Discovery Bay.
Bingham’s brother was also shot and wounded in the incident that started sometime after 4 a.m. in Cardiff Hall, Runaway Bay and ended in blood and death in Sea Crest, Discovery Bay.
The archbishop was shot dead reportedly after money was not forthcoming to gunmen who tore down a grill and entered his house.
However, some police sources said robbery was not the motive of the killing that had all the hall marks of a hit. They also say this was not a crime of passion as some have been alleging.
Information reaching The Times is that two men armed with guns went to a large house owned by Bingham in Cardiff Hall, Runaway Bay sometime after 4 a.m. on Sunday. The house was occupied by Bingham’s brother and another man was also at the premises.
The two gunmen severely attacked Bingham’s brother after he reportedly refused to tell them where to find the archbishop. In the process he was shot twice in the leg. It is also alleged that he was also burnt with hot water and one of his arms was broken in the beating. The brother was later tied up and thrown into the trunk of a car that was on the premises.
The other man at the house was not harmed, but he was reportedly ordered to take them to where Bingham was in Discovery Bay.
On the arrival at Bingham’s home in Discovery Bay sometime after 5 a.m., it is alleged that the two men gained entry to the house, by tearing off a grill after calling out to Bingham. It is reported that they demanded money from Archbishop Bingham.
Bingham, who was at home with a son and another man, alleged to be police officer, told them he had no money there. The robbers later took his wallet and his pastoral ring. They later shot him several times.
Unconfirmed reports are that in the commotion, a constable who lived at the building was alerted to the presence of the gunmen and opened fire. It is not believed that either of them was hit as they were seen later making their way through the community.
They managed to escape in a stolen car. It is not clear if the car was the one taken from Cardiff Hall. Police later found a car in Bell Aire, near Runaway Bay and said it was the one earlier taken from Cardiff Hall.
Bingham and his brother were rushed to the hospital, where Bingham died while undergoing treatment.
Bingham’s brother is said to be in critical condition.
Several questions have been raised as to the nature of the progress of police investigations into the incident as information about the incident has not been clear. Police were called to the scene near mid day Sunday, sparking questions about what happened over the several hours after the shooting.
KIND, CARING MAN
A deacon at the Valley Spiritual Healing Temple, Daniel Mitchell told The Times that church members are in a state of shock.
“He (Delroy Bingham) was a father to the nation. For him it was just always about giving and he was a kind man… He was the one who raised me and he was just a father figure. He was a father figure to everyone,” Mitchell said.
He added that church service was not held yesterday as members rushed to the St Ann’s Bay Hospital when news surfaced of Bingham’s death.
Mitchell explained that he got the call sometime after 8 a.m. and rushed to the hospital.
According to him, Bingham has been active in Christianity since he was a youth and was ordained a bishop before being elevated to archbishop of the church in 2003.
Bingham’s wife resides overseas and he is known to have two sons.
Mitchell said that family members are disgruntled at the way the gunmen seem to have easily gained entry to the house and were not prevented.
“Everyone is just grieving. The whole church,” Mitchell said.
