One of the men shot during the altercation involving podcaster Jaii Frais and 450’s entourage is now facing the possibility of long-term damage, after the injury reportedly affected his nerves.
The injured man has been identified as Jeremy Watson, a visitor from the United States who had travelled to Jamaica for the Carnival season. Watson was the bystander who was shot while standing among patrons attending the Big Wall Revolution event at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Sunday night.
Watson, speaking with Jamaica Observer, described Sunday night as a “deeply traumatic experience.”
According to Watson, he had only just arrived at the venue when an apparent dispute broke out near a restroom area. Gunshots were fired during the confrontation, and he was struck.
The festive night quickly turned chaotic, with patrons scrambling away from the scene. Watson said the experience has left him dealing with serious injuries that require urgent medical attention overseas. He is expected to return to the United States for surgery as doctors assess the extent of the damage.
In addition to the physical impact, Watson has raised concerns about how the situation was handled. He questioned the level of preparedness at the event. He noted that although emergency personnel were present, the response was not sufficient to properly manage his condition at the scene because the ambulance that was on standby lacked the necessary equipment.
Watson also took issue with what he described as shortcomings in the event’s safety measures. He said Sunday night’s situation is “unacceptable” and argued that patrons who pay to attend organised events should be able to rely on proper security and emergency preparedness. He questioned how a situation involving firearms was able to unfold inside the venue. He is now calling for greater accountability from event organisers.
Relatives also confirmed that Watson’s injury is more severe than initially believed. They shared that doctors warned it could lead to permanent complications. His family shared that Watson regularly travelled to Jamaica to attend Carnival.
Alongside Watson, Jaii Frais and one member of the entourage were hospitalised. Jaii, Jhaedee Richards, sustained a gunshot wound to the lower back and was placed under police guard. The man from 450’s entourage is reportedly in a critical condition and, up to report time, is still undergoing surgery.
Police have confirmed that music producer Jahvel “Jahvy Ambassador” Morrison was arrested at the scene, but no charges have been laid against him. Morrison is accused of hitting Jaii in the face just outside the bathroom. After the assault, around 15 men attacked him as well. Morrison and another attacker reportedly brandished guns, which led to the shooting.