KINGSTON, Jamaica — A shooting at a high-profile pre-Carnival event in the Jamaican capital has left three people injured, including an American tourist who is now speaking out about the “deeply traumatic” experience and demanding sweeping changes to public event safety protocols across the country.
Jeremy Watson had traveled to Jamaica to join in the island’s iconic annual Carnival celebrations, and the Big Wall Revolution gathering at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre was supposed to be the final stop of his vacation on Sunday. What he expected to be a joyful, memorable night quickly devolved into chaos when a violent altercation broke out between a group of entertainers at the venue. Just minutes after Watson entered the space, a stray bullet hit him, cutting his trip short and upending his life.
“What should have been a celebratory and memorable evening instead became a deeply traumatic experience,” Watson said in a public statement released this week. Watson, who suffered severe nerve damage from the gunshot wound, says his injury could leave him with permanent long-term disability. He is scheduled to be airlifted back to the United States to undergo urgent, specialized surgery, and the incident has already left him grappling with overwhelming physical pain, emotional trauma, and mounting unexpected financial strain.
Beyond the shooting itself, Watson harshly criticized the inadequate emergency response on site during the incident. Though an ambulance was already stationed at the paid, organized event, he said the vehicle lacked basic life-saving medical supplies, and on-site emergency personnel were unable to properly control his severe bleeding. “This incident represents a serious failure in ensuring that safe and secure environment that patrons at organised, paid events expect,” he said, calling the entire situation “unacceptable.”
Watson is one of three people wounded in the violence, which investigators have tied to a public dispute between high-profile entertainment figures. Popular podcaster Jhaedee Richards, who goes by the professional name Jaii Frais, was also shot and remains hospitalized under police guard. The third victim, a member of one of the involved entertainer’s entourages, is currently in critical condition and still undergoing emergency surgery.
Local law enforcement has confirmed that Jahvel “Jahvy Ambassador” Morrison, a well-known Jamaican music producer and artist manager, is currently in police custody as the investigation progresses. Initial police reports show the shooting erupted following a confrontation between Morrison and Richards near a venue restroom, where multiple people pulled firearms during the fight. No formal charges have been filed against any suspect as of yet, and detectives continue to piece together the full sequence of events that led to the violence.
For Watson, the incident is far more than a personal tragedy — it is a critical wake-up call for Jamaican authorities and event organizers. He is calling on local officials to implement far stricter safety screening protocols, invest in improved emergency response training and resources for public events, and hold event organizers legally accountable for failures that put attendees at risk. “I can only hope that Jamaica takes this incident as a serious wake-up call and holds event organisers accountable for implementing the necessary safeguards to prevent any future patrons from enduring a situation like mine,” Watson said. “No individual attending an event for enjoyment should have their life threatened or leave with life-altering injuries due to preventable failures in safety and preparedness. There must be accountability, and there must be change to ensure that the well-being and security of all patrons are treated as a priority, not an afterthought.”