Pastor shot dead while at church in St Catherine 

A 29-year-old pastor was shot and killed by a gunman at a church on Old Harbour Road in St Catherine on Thursday evening.

The deceased has been identified as James Johnson, a member of the Church of God of Prophecy, located on Old Harbour Road in St Catherine.

Reports from the Corporate Communication Unit (CCU) are that at about 5:00 p.m., Johnson was teaching a class with students at the church when a lone gunman entered the building and opened fire, hitting the pastor.

The man then fled the area.

Johnson was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A number of persons, especially those from the church community, have taken to social media to expressed shock and anger at the killing.

“This is really a sad development. Just goes to show where the crime situation is at this point in time,” said one social media user.

“Grace Worship Centre COGOP Family extends deepest condolence to the family of Minister/Pastor James Johnson and the entire Church of God of Prophecy Family in Jamaica,” another social media post stated.

“Only child for his mother. We pray for the swift hands of God against his killer or killers,” said another post.

The Spanish Town police are investigating the incident.