Man Shot Dead, Girlfriend Injured in Robbery Attempt at Manchester Bar

MANCHESTER, Jamaica – A robbery at a bar in the Iverness district of Knockpatrick, Manchester, left one man dead and his girlfriend critically injured after they were ambushed by two masked gunmen Thursday night.

The deceased has been identified by police as Rushaine Weltshire, 30, a resident of Iverness.

According to authorities, the incident occurred around 9:00 pm when the couple was enjoying a night out at the bar. Two masked men armed with guns entered the premises, prompting Weltshire to attempt an escape. He was pursued by the gunmen to a back room where they demanded, “weh the money deh?” (“Where is the money?”).

Weltshire’s girlfriend, the bar’s operator, was also in the back room when the men opened fire. Weltshire was fatally shot and died at the scene, while his partner was hit in the abdomen. As the gunmen fled, they fired at a Toyota Probox taxi passing by the bar, damaging the vehicle’s windshield and passenger window, though the driver narrowly escaped harm.

The injured woman was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery Thursday night. Medical sources described her condition as life-threatening, though she was reportedly responsive prior to surgery.

The tragic shooting has pushed Manchester’s 2024 murder count to 43, with October alone witnessing four murders in the parish, including a double homicide at Mandeville Market.

In response to rising violence, Minister of National Security Dr. Horace Chang recently toured Mandeville, meeting with local leaders and residents to discuss escalating crime concerns.