Police in western Kingston are probing the fatal shooting of a 41-year-old businessman who was killed in Denham Town on Christmas Day. The attack unfolded in the early morning hours as residents moved about the area.
The victim has been identified as Ricardo Ellis, a resident of North Street, Kingston 14. Reports indicate that Ellis, who also goes by the aliases “Boyah” and “Bozza”, was targeted around 8 a.m. in front of his business establishment at the intersection of Wellington and Nelson streets.
According to police accounts, Ellis stood just outside his business when two men travelling on a motorcycle approached. As soon as they were close, they began shooting at him and hit him several times. He was found at the scene with gunshot wounds in his upper body. The gunmen had already fled the scene when police arrived.
Ellis was assisted and rushed to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. No arrests have been announced, and investigators have not released details about a possible motive.
The killing has sent shockwaves through the Denham Town community, particularly given its timing. Unconfirmed reports allege that Ellis was the don of an area known as Scream Corner in Denham Town. He was killed just one day before his Boxing Day party titled No Bar, which was scheduled for December 26 at Scream Park.
The shooting is currently being investigated. The incident comes amid a reported decline in violent crime within the Kingston West Police Division. As of December 20, the division recorded 32 murders in 2025, compared with 56 during the similar period in 2024, reflecting a 43 per cent reduction.
National figures also point to a decline in killings. As of December 20, 2025, Jamaica has recorded a 43 per cent decline in murders in comparison to last year’s murder rate. Up to December 20, the toll stood at 649 murders.