By David Dunkley,
Staff Reporter
A ST. Andrew businessman was shot and killed last night after he stopped at a traffic light at the intersection West Kings House Road and Waterloo Road.
The police have identified him as Ranil Wijesekera, the financial controller for Restaurants of Jamaica, the operators of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
The businessman, a Sri Lankan who was employed to Restaurant of Jamaica for a year, was killed by two men who approached him on a bike as he was about to turn on Waterloo Road, police say.
His face, chest and neck were riddled with bullets, but nothing was taken from him. Police say over ten 9mm spent shells were found at the murder scene.
Mr. Wijesekera is the second businessman to be shot and killed by gunmen in less than one week. Last Thursday, Spanish Town businessman Peter Shim, was murdered at his St. Andrew home. Last night's killing pushed to 691 the number of people killed violently since January.
Police reports indicate that at about 7:45 p.m., Mr. Wijesekera was driving his Mitsubishi Pajero jeep registered 1355 BJ, up West Kings House Road when he stopped at a traffic light at the intersection with Waterloo Road.
As he was about to make a right turn unto Waterloo Road, two men rode up on a motorbike, pulled firearms and sprayed him with bullets. The men then rode away.
The businessman was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police say he lived on Richings Avenue in Liguanea, St. Andrew, and had been in the island for over 10 years.
