Man who paralysed inmate in 2017 shot dead on Saturday

A Fairbaine Pasture man who is no stranger to violence, and who was given the alias “Bolo” (as he was compared to Bolo Yeung, an extremely violent movie star), died from gunshot wounds on Saturday morning, November 16, 2024.

Jelani “Bolo” John, 29, is said to have been at home around 2:00 a.m. when he was shot. However, his body was found around 6:00 a.m. in his neighbour’s yard, and investigators are entertaining the idea that he tried to run away from his attacker/attackers.

A source told SEARCHLIGHT that the day before John was killed, he had been discharged from the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) having been shot on Monday, November 11, 2024. He was the second person to die from gunshot wounds in two days and is this country’s 45 homicide victim for 2024.

Some villagers were not displeased about John’s violent end as he did not appear to be well liked in the area. He has been described as a “bully” by some. John is no stranger to extreme violence. On January 26, 2017 while serving a sentence at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) in a section known as “Star Class 1” or “The Zoo”, he displayed conduct similar to Yeung Sze (better known as Bolo Yeung), the Hong Kong former competitive bodybuilder, martial artist, and actor, after whom he was named, when he beat a fellow prisoner so badly that the man became paralysed from the chest down.

According to SEARCHLIGHT’s archives, John was sentenced to eight years in prison after that attack although then High Court Judge, Brian Cottle remarked during the sentencing that the victim, Damani ‘Damo’ Williams, was the “co-author of his own misfortune.”

On the day of the fight that left Williams crippled, the men were in the prison cell with at least two dozen others when an argument broke out between the two men.

On one occasion, Williams sprayed water on John and another time, he hit John on his foot. Williams also refused to apologize on both occasions and used expletives while issuing threats and mentioning that he worshipped the devil/satan.

John later used a broomstick to beat Williams and when it broke, he used a wrestling move he called “The Spade” to throw Williams over his shoulder more than once. Williams landed on his head at one point and received an injury to his spine, paralyzing him.

Police are investigating John’s death.