Sean Patterson, who was killed in Jamaica
(Picture: Supplied)The family of a west London personal trainer chased and shot dead while holidaying in Jamaica have spoken of their devastation.
Sean Patterson, 33, from Notting Hill, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his head and upper body at the One Love villa where he was staying in Bogue Hill, St James around midday on Monday.
His sister Sarah Wright wrote on social media on Wednesday: “Well that’s one way to start the new year, finding out your baby brother has been murdered in Jamaica. To say we are heartbroken is an understatement.
“You’ll get justice ikkle (little) bro.”
Mr Patterson was standing by a pool at the popular guest house when he was approached by a suspect who pulled out a handgun, pursued him a short distance and then opened fire.
Witnesses heard “loud explosions”, Jamaica Constabulary Force said. The victim was transported to Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay but was unable to be revived.
A 34-year-old man, from Kingston, has been taken into custody.
It is reported he had been deported from the United Kingdom in 2013.
According to the Jamaica Star, Mr Patterson arrived on the Caribbean island on December 29. He is said to have spent three days at a popular apartment complex in Freeport, before booking in at the One Love villa. A close friend told the newspaper, the deceased and a friend attended an event on the north coast of the island on Sunday and later met up with the suspect.
The three of them reportedly travelled to Montego Bay.
NHS worker Nicole Lynch, 38, who grew up with Mr Patterson in Boxmoor House, a block of flats off Queensdale Crescent, told the Standard: “Sean was a lovely young man, a great guy. His family will be devastated. It’s so sad. My sister Natasha rang to tell me. Sean’s mum was a lovely lady, very much a character when we were growing up.”
Another friend replied to Ms Wright’s post on Facebook: “I’m so sorry for your loss. I was with him the other day and not knowing that was gonna happen. It breaks my heart.
“I remember when he was always in my house all the house parties. I have pics of him and you… that will stay with me forever.
“So much memories. I’ll never forget him. May he rest in peace. Sending the family blessings, love, healing, health. It’s not gonna be the same without you, SP.”
A third sent her “deepest condolences to my Boxmoor family. RIP Sean”.
Vanessa Willey said: “There was a time in my life when he was like a little brother to me. I remember him shouting up at my window at Mum’s at some silly morning hours.
“As we got older, I still cared about him and if I ever bumped into him, I told him to behave.
“Sean, I am so sorry this happened to you. Your heart was always a big one. Rest in sweet peace.”
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman confirmed they were currently “supporting the family of a British man who died in Jamaica and are in contact with the local authorities”.
Jamaica has the second highest homicide rate per capita in the world, behind El Salvador.
Around 1,498 were killed last year, 24 more than in 2021, out of a total population of 2.8 million, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
St James, where Mr Patterson died, was its most violent district with 198 murders.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently declared a widespread state of emergency in response to a surge in gang violence.
In October, Jamaica’s broadcasting regulator moved to ban music and TV content deemed to glorify crime violence, drugs and weapons.
