Portmore man charged over deadly 'scamming client’ row
A Portmore labourer who allegedly accused a man of stealing his “scamming client” before ordering gunmen to open fire, killing one man and injuring another last year, has been charged with murder.
The accused is 32-year-old Jaheel Spike of Coconut Crescent, Portmore, St Catherine, and Pondside district, Bull Bay, St Andrew, a police statement said.
Spike was slapped with multiple charges including murder, conspiracy to murder, assault at common law, use of firearm to commit a felony, shooting with intent, possession of prohibited weapon, unauthorised possession of ammunition, and discharge of firearm in any place.
Dead is 29-year-old caretaker Dominique McCalpin of Mark Twain Avenue, Gregory Park, St Catherine.
According to reports from the Morant Bay police, around midday on Friday, September 22, 2024, Spike chartered a taxi to take him to Gypsum Road in St Thomas to collect money. The driver, who was accompanied by McCalpin, transported him to the location.
Upon arrival, they were joined by two men armed with handguns. Spike reportedly accused the driver of stealing his “scamming client,” searched the driver’s phone, and then instructed the gunmen to "do whatever they wanted" with the two men.
One of the gunmen opened fire, hitting McCalpin multiple times. The driver was ordered to remove the tracker from the vehicle, but he seized the opportunity to flee. He was shot at while escaping and later discovered he had been injured.
A police report was filed, and an investigation launched.
Spike was arrested in St Mary in May 2025 in relation to an unrelated matter.
He was later transferred to St Thomas, where he was pointed out in an identification parade and interviewed in a question-and-answer session on Wednesday.
He was formally charged and is now awaiting a court date.
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