Business Owners Murdered in St Elizabeth After Denied Gun License

Chinese Business Owners Murdered in St Elizabeth After Denied Gun License  – CVM LIVE understands that a Chinese couple in St Elizabeth was fatally shot shortly before Christmas in 2021; they applied for a firearm license but were denied. The operators of Jojo’s Supermarket were told in June 2021 that they did not establish a clear need to be armed, nor were they exposed to any particular risk, despite outlining myriad robberies and attacks on their business by armed thugs in the past. The revelation has left many stakeholders asking critical questions pertaining to acquiring a gun license in Jamaica.

CVM LIVE received documents from a source connected to the Chinese couple, among them a response letter on what appears to be the firearm licensing authority letterhead, dated June 24, 2021, said to be private and confidential. The letter sent to Mr. Shu advised that following a recent meeting of the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) board, his application for a gun license was not granted.

It continued the reason for the denial being ” the applicant has not established a clear need to be armed. He is not exposed to any particular risk”. The letter went on to explain how the applicant could go about filing an appeal within 21 days of receiving the board decision along with payment of the relevant fees. It outlined that unless the applicant’s circumstances changed his application would likely not be entertained until two years after the board’s decision passed. 

The letter bore a signature allegedly by the Director of Application and Certification. CVM LIVE also obtained a copy of an appeal letter addressed to the review board of the FLA dated July 5, 2021. In this letter, Mr. Shu wrote back to the FLA review board noting his application for a firearm license was denied. 

He went on … ” my family and I are the operators of Jojo Supermarket and wholesale in Southfield, St Elizabeth”. He outlined the nature of their daily operations, cash transaction, and banking concerns. He also explained they make deliveries to customer premises and have been exposed to attacks from criminals. He went on to detail several incidents of break-ins and attempted break-ins during and after operating hours. He notes myriad times over the years they have allegedly filed reports to the junction police since 2014 and in 2018. 

He then implored them to reconsider their decision to grant the gun license. 

Several questions arise, did the murdered Chinese couple apply for a gun license as suggested by these documents, were they denied on the basis explained in the letter received. If yes to any of these, what were the outcomes of the appeal, and who fits the bill for a gun license if not a business operator who’s been targeted over the years by criminals?

It’s unclear what amounted from the appeal as efforts to get an interview with the FLA’s CEO Shane Dalling proved futile. CVM LIVE waited for several days for an on-the-phone or in-person interview, to no avail.