Reputed Gang Leader Deported and Charged for Murder in Kingston

A reputed gang leader was deported from the United States and charged with murder just days after his return to Jamaica, more than a year after allegedly shooting two children and killing their father before fleeing the country.

Rasheim ‘Shem’ Brown, a 33-year-old resident of Regent Street, Kingston 14, was deported last Thursday. He was among four individuals handed over to Jamaican authorities at Norman Manley International Airport. By Monday, Brown was formally charged with the murder of 55-year-old Mark McKenzie. He also faces charges of two counts of wounding with intent, possession of a prohibited weapon, unauthorized possession of ammunition, and using a firearm to commit a felony.

The charges stem from a December 6, 2023, incident in which armed men, including Brown, allegedly broke into McKenzie’s one-bedroom home around 3 a.m. and opened fire. McKenzie was shot multiple times in the face and chest, while his two young sons, aged eight and four, were also wounded. The injured children were rushed to the Bustamante Hospital for Children and survived the attack.

Authorities believe the shooting was linked to ongoing gang conflicts in the Hannah Town area of Kingston Western.

Brown is reportedly an enforcer for the Golden Heights Gang, which operates in Denham Town and is affiliated with the notorious Scream Corner Gang. Following his deportation, he was taken into custody and questioned in the presence of his attorney before being officially charged.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael Phipps emphasized that Brown’s arrest highlights the police’s commitment to tracking down fugitives who flee Jamaica after committing serious crimes.