News

'Sandokan' killed in alleged shoot-out

Hopeton 'Sandokan' Brown - File

Western Bureau:

SCORES OF EAGER residents converged at Madden's Funeral Home in Montego Bay yesterday to view the body of Hopeton 'Sandokan' Brown, the Jamaican featured on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Ten Most Wanted List.

Brown was reportedly cut down in an alleged shoot-out by members of the St. James Police, the Area One Flying Squad and the Area One Operations Unit in Lilliput, St. James on Sunday.

It was just two Friday's ago that a Weekend Star lead story highlighting 18 Jamaicans who are most wanted abroad carried a photograph of Brown as well of a list of the charges that he was wanted for.

The police attempts to keep Brown's identity a secret pending a confirmation from their United States counterparts was short-lived after a man, who identified himself as the deceased's uncle, demanded to see the body. The 'Uncle', who was subsequently escorted into the morgue, announced to the waiting residents on his return that it was in fact Brown.

Humble and kind

Although the FBI listed Brown as being "considered armed and extremely dangerous", some residents from his home community of Canterbury in Montego Bay, described him as being "humble and a kind person". Tears flowed freely and tempers flared as some persons contended that Brown was in fact murdered in cold blood. "Them could a carry him go a jail and mek the Feds (FBI) come get him-- Jah know mi feel it star," a man said sadly.

The FBI's website stated that US$50,000 was being offered for information on the 30 year-old man. The site said the United States authorities were seeking him for his alleged because of the police but because of the people who are working in the communities..." Supt. Wilson said.

The senior officer gave two thumbs up to the organisation's for the fervent bid to "reclaim the future of the children, the grandchildren and succeeding generations from the clutches of crime and violence."

He noted that in 2002, 83 murders were recorded in the division compared to last year's 39, a 49 per cent reduction. He also stated that robberies and shootings were on the decline - 56 and 60 per cent less respectively.

The lawman, along with Dunstan Whittingham, chairman of the CKTT, and others who addressed the gathering, paid homage to the efforts of Grace, Kennedy and Company for its contribution to the project.

Several calls where made for other private sector organisations to come on board so that employment opportunities can be provided for the residents of central Kingston. involvement in drug-related activities, murder and attempted murder.

He was listed as having 10 aliases and with ties in Florida, Minnesota, Connecticut, California, England and Jamaica. He was reportedly wanted by the Jamaican Police for the murders of two men, who were gunned down in the Mount Salem area in early January 2001.

The police say they recovered a modified Carbon 15 pistol, one Colt Mack Four Series 80 .45 automatic pistol, three motor cars, a green mask and an assortment of ammunition in Sunday's shooting. A second man was detained in the same incident and has been charged with illegal possession of firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and shooting with intent. His identity is being withheld as he is expected to face police line-ups for crimes including armed robberies and shootings.

THE STAR understands that the police went to the Lilliput area sometime after 11 a.m. to locate suspects figured in the shooting death of an 18 year-old man at a dance in nearby Barrett Town, about 2:30 a.m. that same morning.

Police reports are officers came under heavy gunfire on their approach to a particular house in the area. The lawmen reportedly took cover and returned the fire. Following the shooting, Brown was found suffering from gunshot wounds.

The Carbon 15 pistol-serial number B27294- which was fitted with a M-16 magazine, containing 16 live rounds, was reportedly taken from him along with seven M-16 spent shells. He was subsequently taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A search of the house turned up the second man and the .45 pistol, bearing the number FC18032E, with five live rounds. Nine .40 calibre rounds, 13 9-mm hollow-point bullets, a mask, two sets of licensed plates were found. One white Toyota Corolla car, one grey Honda Accord and a beige Toyota Corolla, all believed to be stolen, were also seized.