A 29-year-old man was murdered off Shirley Street over the weekend but police did not include the homicide in its crime report to the press.

The victim was identified by his mother, Talita Gray-Clarke, as Francisco Jeremy Smith.

Police were contacted after claims circulated on social media about another homicide.

Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters confirmed to The Tribune yesterday that a homicide had occurred on St James Road over the weekend.

“Sometime around 12am Saturday morning police received reports of gunshots on St James Road and the officers arrived on the scene. They met the body of a male lying on the ground with several gunshot wounds. EMS was called in when they came in they pronounced the body lifeless.”

It is unclear why the matter was not included in the weekend crime report. However, when asked, ASP Peters said it was because the incident did not come to the police’s attention through the regular channels. He declined to say more.

Mr Smith’s mother said her son was shot near Pilgrim Church. She learned about her son’s death when her niece from Freeport sent a picture of him laying on the street.

“She sent me a WhatsApp first saying she can’t gather the words to say but have her condolences. I sent a reply back and I say what happened and she sent the picture to me.

“I didn’t open it when I see someone laying on the ground,” she said yesterday.

Click here to read more at The Tribune