Longtimer "BeBe" Murdered in Western Jamaica
Kenrick ‘Bebe’ Stephenson (right) wearing a black shirt and black pants is captured here in this 2012 photo when unfortunately the legendary Club Heavens was raided by police in suspecting miscreants at the spot.
The Gleaner carried a small piece on the killing:
A well-known St James resident, Kenrick ‘Bebe’ Stephenson, was shot and killed at his Ironshore home last night.
Details surrounding the shooting were unclear up to last night, however, head of the St James police Senior Superintendent Egbert Parkinson, confirmed the incident.
Stephenson was recently selected as the vice-chairman of the People’s National Party executive for West Central St James.
ENDS
Photos such as the one above sadly have since been seen on Social media especially Facebook and the outpouring continues.
Motives are unclear at this time as he was accused of being involved in the illegal lotto scamming activity, we can remember however his involvement in politics as part of the ruling People's National Party, PNP and he also was a party promoter with some standing, the last time I saw him was his performance in drag at a party I was at in my capacity as a DJ earlier this year
Photos of that to come soon.
He also showed some interest in the homeless populations of LGBT youth in Western Jamaica and actually housed some of them at his short lived LGBT spot in Montego Bay prior to the infamous police raid of which I reported on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica on Wordpress HERE:
PNP mourns killing of prominent activist
BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter
hinesh@jamaicaobserver.comTuesday, May 27, 2014 72 Comments
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Kenley ‘Bebe’ Stephens riding a horse last Friday during Labour Day activities being carried out by members of the West Central St James constituency, at the Granville Police Station.
MONTEGO BAY, St James — The killing of prominent People's National Party (PNP) activist Kenley 'Bebe' Stephens has left the party's organisation in St James in shock.
Stephens was killed at his gate Sunday evening, hours after attending a meeting of the party's Regional Executive Council in Montego Bay in the parish. He was the vice-chairman of the West Central St James constituency.
According to a release from the Corporate Communication Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, at about 8:35 Sunday evening, Stephens— accompanied by two other men — was about to enter his car at his gate on the upscale Winchester Terrace, Coral Gardens, when he was approached by a man who shot him repeatedly.
He was taken to hospital where he died while undergoing treatment. The other two men were not harmed. The shooter, meanwhile, escaped from the area on foot.
Detectives from the St James police division are investigating the incident.
Yesterday, party officials mourned the killing with chairman of the PNP's Region Six, Dr DK Duncan, remarking that Stephens made a meaningful contribution to the party.
"Like most persons, we are saddened by his passing. He has made significant contribution to the PNP, through the youth organisation and the West Central St James constituency," Dr Duncan reflected.
Meanwhile, West Central Member of Parliament Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, who expressed unease about the violent manner in which the nation's youths are dying, argued that Stephens was not only a party man, but a zealous community worker.
"We are very shocked and hurt at his sudden and violent death. We are concerned about the horrific way in which our young men are dying, not only in St James, but in the nation," Folkes-Abrahams told the sJamaica Observer.
"He was at the Regional Executive Council in Montego Bay on Sunday and the Labour Day project (on Friday) where he was there joking around and riding a horse. He has always been enthusiastic about community activities. He will be sadly missed," Folkes-Abrahams lamented
Meanwhile, in a release from the PNP secretariat -- which extended condolences to Stephens' relatives and friends -- the need for a sustained fight on crime was articulated.
"This latest killing confirms that while strides are being made in the fight against violent crimes and all criminality, we still have a long way in the journey to victory against criminals," the release read.
Members of Stephens' native Granville community were also shocked by his tragic passing.
"It is a very sombre mood in Granville, everybody is mourning. Bebe was a very popular man in Granville and the entire St James," Michael Troupe, the PNP councillor for the Granville Division, told the Observer.