Music producer in police custody after shooting incident at Big Wall

A popular music producer and artiste manager is in police custody as investigators probe yesterday’s shooting at post-carnival party Big Wall, which saw three men being shot and injured, including popular vlogger and content creator Jhaedee ‘Jaii Frais’ Richards.

The producer, who is said to be a licensed firearm holder, is being held at the Half-Way Tree Police Station in St Andrew while investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Police report that the incident occurred about 9:30 p.m.

According to investigators, Jaii Frais told the police that shortly after arriving at the venue with his girlfriend, he went to the restroom.

The Gleaner understands that upon exiting, he was allegedly confronted and struck in the face by the producer.

According to the police, Richards reported that he was then attacked by a group of about 15 men, during which one of the attackers reportedly pulled a firearm and pointed it at him.

He reportedly told the police that he managed to disarm the individual.

According to the police, Jaii Frais claimed that the producer, who is known to him, then pulled a firearm from his waistband and opened fire in his direction while he was being assaulted.

They further indicated that Richards told the police that he returned fire using the weapon he had taken before fleeing the scene.

The vlogger, according to the police, said he later sought assistance from a police officer at the venue, handed over the firearm, and shortly after realised he had been shot in the lower back.

He was transported to the University Hospital of the West Indies, where he remains under police guard while receiving treatment.

The other injured persons have been identified as Jeremy Watson, a 39-year-old operations manager from Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States, and 36-year-old Trevor Twaite of a Kingston 6 address, who is reportedly in critical condition, undergoing surgery.

Police said Watson, who is believed to be a bystander, and Twaite, who is reportedly associated with the entertainment group “450”, were taken to hospital, where Twaite remains in surgery.

The Gleaner has been reliably informed that a Glock nine millimetre pistol was seized from the music producer, who is said to be a licensed firearm holder.

Another nine-millimetre pistol was handed over to the police by Richards.

Members of the St Andrew Central Scene of Crime Unit processed the location and recovered spent casings, a blood sample, and a white sneaker, all of which should form part of evidential value.

- Andre Williams

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.