'Bug’ named person of interest in Lawrence Tavern shooting

A person of interest has been named in a case of alleged theft and shooting in Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew that Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Senator Delano Seiveright says involved his driver on Sunday.

The police have not released the name of the complainant or their associations, but Seiveright made the connection in a statement on Tuesday.

"There was a shooting incident in the Lawrence Tavern area involving my driver, who is a former member of the military and responded to a serious threat. I was not present, and none of my vehicles were involved. The incident occurred outside the constituency and after my driver had completed his duties with me. Fortunately, no one was injured,” Seiveright said.

He added, “Based on the information available, I do not believe the incident was politically motivated.”

The police say the case stems from alleged larceny of a motor vehicle.

Acting Superintendent Randy Sweeney, head of the St Andrew North police, said the shooting, which did not involve the police, took place along the Border main road, near Oberlin High School.

“We have conducted several operations targeting him, but it proved futile. We only have his alias, who goes by the name Bug. I could just use this opportunity to appeal to him to turn over himself to the Lawrence Tavern Police Station or Constant Spring CIB,” he told The Gleaner in an interview on Wednesday.

Sweeney said the series of incidents took place between about 12:15 a.m. and 2:40 a.m. on Sunday while the complainant was at a wake.

The man reportedly suspected that his motor vehicle, which was parked along the roadway, was being broken into by men linked to a nearby vehicle.

According to the police, the complainant pursued the suspects in his car but shortly after realised that the wheels of his vehicle had been tampered with.

It's suspected that the lugs were removed.

Sweeney said, “In a bid to escape, [the suspects] reversed… and a shooting incident took place in that instance between the suspect and persons who were pursuing the suspect, not the police.”

The suspects reportedly abandoned their vehicle, which has since been seized by police.

Sweeney said there is no information suggesting political motivations.

"Nothing like that was brought to my attention,” he said.

In a related development, a man who had reported that a car he rented was stolen has since been charged with creating public mischief.

Police suspect the report was false.

“We are of the view that [the vehicle] was intentionally given to one of the suspects who was committing several criminal activities in the Lawrence Tavern area,” Sweeney said.

Tensions have escalated inside the JLP in recent weeks over internal succession plans in the St Andrew North Central constituency.

Veteran JLP MP Karl Samuda, who currently holds the seat, has signalled plans to step down.

Seiveright confirmed on Good Friday that he has applied to replace Samuda, a move some insiders say disrupted an expected announcement about the party’s plans.

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