Alesia Edwards
A murder in the financial heart of Ocho Rios, in broad daylight as two cruise ships spilled their passengers onto the streets of the resort town, has left nerves jangling.For many locals though it’s the question of ‘who dunnit’, and why, that are uppermost in the minds.
Speculation is rife about the reason behind the broad daylight murder of an informal money dealer, popularly known as a Dollaz Man, along Main Street in Ocho Rios, St. Ann Wednesday morning, December 17. The dead man has been identified as Joseph Senior also called Smiley, 40, of Three Hills in St. Mary. His body fell in the roadway, within 100 yard radius of four banks, a cambio and two craft markets.He was gunned down about 9 a.m., just as most businesses along the busy shopping hub were about to open or had just opened, and people were out and about rushing to get to work or to transact early morning business. Reports to North Coast Times are that a man, dressed in a hoodie, walked up to Smiley and pretended as if he was interested in doing business with him. It is not strange for people to just walk up to any of the several ‘Dollaz Man’ located along from Main Street within the vicinity of the craft market, across from Burger King, to do business, mainly to sell or buy foreign currency, sometimes amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollarsPersons were however sent scampering when a loud explosion was heard. The would-be-customer reportedly pulled a gun and opened fire on Smiley. He was hit in the chest. “Nobody never know a what a gwan. A when people hear the gunshot now, everybody start run and then them realize sey a him get shot,” a man claiming to be near the scene of the shooting told the North Coast Times. The wounded man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The incident occurred while two cruise ships were at the pier some distance away and cruise passengers along with other visitors to the island were traversing the said roadway where Senior was gunned down.Police moved quickly to locked down that section of main street and re route traffic, changing the flow even on one-way streets.Within hours they detained a man, reported to be a policeman, but the Times was told by high level police officers that though the cop was extensively questioned, “he could not have done it.” They said his firearm had not been discharged and the rigorous questioning suggested at no point that he had been involved. He was released, Thursday.
However, reports continued to spread that police had got the killer.
TOURISM
Police have not yet made a breakthrough although the officer in charge of Ocho Rios police, assistant superintendent Troyville Haughton said they were pursuing several strong leads and had questioned people (not suspects) in relation to the incident. Tourism interests in Ocho Rios, however, were concerned about the likely impact and said as much fearing the murder could help push the cruise business to a lower ebb than where it’s now perched. However, residents of the town said crime was crime and needed to be rooted out for the sake of locals.Since the murder, there have been speculation by the public, and persons who knew Smiley, about what could have led to his death especially since he was not robbed. There are also speculation about a possible identity of the shooter. It is being speculated that he was gunned down by someone known to him. Persons who knew Smiley have described him as a jovial and friendly person. Senior is married to a teacher and reportedly just completed his home.Smiley is the second resident from neighbouring St. Mary who was murdered in broad daylight in the resort town within the last two weeks. Manager at Shaw Park Gardens, Withcliffe Scott, of Charles Town in St. Mary was killed by gunmen at the attraction on Monday, December 8, as he sat at his desk in his office. His licensed firearm was stolen.
He was killed by two men who reportedly entered the premises from one of several heavily grown pathways at the back of the property. The men were seen entering Scott’s office and shortly after an explosion was heard.
The Ocho Rios police are probing both incidents.
