A local star singer from a popular tourist destination in the Caribbean was just murdered in an incident that remains under investigation.

Shawn Geminson, 48, a singer known as "Shanty" from Jamaica's Ocho Rios area, died on Wednesday from injuries sustained during a physical assault on Tuesday, according to The Jamaica Gleaner.

The Ocho Rios Criminal Investigation Branch, which was initially investigating the incident as an "assault occasioning grievous bodily harm," has now upgraded the probe to murder.

Died from injuries sustained in physical assault

According to The Jamaica Star, Geminson was hospitalized Tuesday evening after he was reportedly "severely beaten" by three men at a house in St. Ann's Parish.

Local police were called and responded to reports of a man found lying in a roadway, and he was soon transported to St Ann's Bay Regional Hospital to be treated for his injuries.

Unfortunately, while the police were still investigating what had occurred, Geminson ultimately succumbed to his grievous wounds and died at the hospital on Wednesday.

Victim allegedly shared details of assault before his death

Radio Jamaica News also reported on the apparent murder of Geminson and revealed that he is said to have shared some information with investigators about his unidentified assailants before he died.

The victim is alleged to have told the police that he'd been lured into a house near where he was found by three men he did not know right before he was brutally assaulted.

That assault was said to have been particularly severe and included both of Geminson's arms being broken and him being left with a serious wound on the left side of his face, likely among other unreported injuries that led to his death.

Jamaican police claim crime rates are down from last year

Interestingly enough, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force, violent crime rates are down significantly in the Caribbean island nation this year in comparison to 2023, including in St. Ann's Parish.

There were 70 murders in St. Ann in 2023 compared to just 41 thus far in 2024, a decline of around 41%, and there have only been 31 reports of persons injured this year compared to 42 such incidents last year.

Likewise, robberies are said to be down by around 14%, with 48 this year in contrast to 56 last year, but shooting incidents are up by about 22% with 54 incidents so far compared to 44 shootings total in 2023.

U.S State Department advises Americans to "reconsider" travel to Jamaica, specifically warning against St. Ann's Parish

However, while Jamaica's crime rates may be on the decline this year, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 3 Advisory for Americans to "reconsider travel" to the popular island nation because of its high crime rates, questionable emergency response times and health care, and inadequate law enforcement investigations and prosecutions.

Notably, the advisory also specifically mentioned that a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" warning for U.S. Embassy personnel and U.S. citizens had been issued for several areas of Jamaica, pertinently including some of the neighborhoods in the Ocho Rios area of St. Ann's Parish.