Sigh of relief

THE Chinese business community is breathing a sigh of relief after the fatal shooting of Dewar Archibald — who police sources say was part of an organised criminal network operating across several parishes — during a reported gun battle with cops in St Andrew early Sunday morning. According to a highly placed source, Archibald, otherwise called Max, was a thorn in the side of several Chinese individuals as he preyed on their businesses and homes. “He and his cronies were on their way to hit the home of a Chinese man in the Corporate Area when they were intercepted by the police Sunday,” the Jamaica Observer source said. Police reported that Archibald, whom they described as a “high-risk criminal target linked to two murders and a series of major robberies and break-ins across Jamaica”, was among three people fatally shot during an operation by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Specialised Operations Branch along Red Hills Road about 1:45 am. According to the police, the Specialised Operations team was on patrol in the Red Hills area when information was received that a group of armed men travelling in two vehicles — a red Honda HR-V and a white Toyota Probox — was allegedly preparing to carry out criminal activity in the St Andrew North Police Division. A preliminary police report said the cops attempted to intercept the vehicles but the drivers did not stop. The Probox eluded the police. “Police subsequently intercepted the Honda HR-V in the vicinity of Knightsdale Drive. Occupants of the vehicle reportedly opened fire at members of the police team, who then discharged their service weapons,” the police said. Three people, one of them a woman, were subsequently found with gunshot wounds. The two men were identified as Archibald, 44 years old of Mountain View, Lincoln, Manchester; and Damian Byfield, 39 years old of Fraser’s Content, St Catherine. Police sources said the woman, who was unidentified at press time, was of brown complexion, approximately 5 feet seven inches tall, with braided hair, and was clad in a black dress. Two firearms along with ammunition were recovered, the police said. Police said Archibald was a member of the Speculation Gang and had been identified by investigators as one of the main organisers of robberies and break-ins targeting automated teller machines (ATMs), remittance agencies, and other cash-intensive businesses. According to police sources, the woman is critical to the criminals’ modus operandi as “they use her as a lookout or a distraction”. Archibald has also been implicated in two murders committed within the past nine months — Chevardo Messam at Galleon Beach in Crawford district, St Elizabeth, on December 21, 2025; and Kemar Brown, otherwise called Mars, in Bristol, Alexandria, St Ann, on January 9, 2026. A woman was shot and injured during the second incident. Police also reported that Archibald had been linked to a shooting during an attempted theft of an ATM in Drax Hall, St Ann, in April. Additionally, investigations had further implicated him in a series of robberies and break-ins in Linstead, St Catherine, in February and June; Kingston in April; and Croft’s Hill, Clarendon, in May.