KINGSTON, Jamaica - A suspected armed robber linked to a string of hold-ups in Toronto last year has been arrested for murder in Jamaica.
By Nick SommerladLloyd Forrester, a 34-year-old labourer, was captured in Montego Bay on Thursday night after a fatal shooting.
Mr. Forrester, from Kingston, who has been charged with murder, is wanted in Canada in connection with three armed robberies last summer.
Three other suspected members of the same gang were arrested in December.
Detective Constable Nunzio Tramontozzi, of Toronto police, said yesterday Mr. Forrester had been travelling between Jamaica and Canada under some 10 aliases since 1992 prior to his arrest.
Det. Const. Tramontozzi said he would seek Mr. Forrester's extradition to Canada.
Valentine Stephenson, a 33-year-old mechanic from St. James, Jamaica, was at home with his family last Thursday when at around 11: 40 p.m. his door was kicked in and a man entered and opened fire.
Mr. Stephenson was hit several times and died later in hospital, while his nine-year-old daughter was also shot and injured.
Two men were allegedly seen fleeing the scene.
Mr. Forrester and another man, 19-year-old Richard Gayle, from Kingston, were later arrested by a police patrol when they were seen acting suspiciously.
A search of their vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla, found a loaded 9mm Browning pistol.
The police then raided a guesthouse in Montego Bay, where two other men, suspected to be involved in Mr. Stephenson's murder, were arrested.
Mr. Forrester and Mr. Gayle have since been charged with murder and police continue to question the other two suspects.
Meanwhile, Jamaican police are assisting their Canadian counterparts, who want to question Mr. Forrester in connection with a string of violent crimes in the Toronto area.
Superintendent John Morris of the Jamaican Constabulary Force said: "We ran his name though the system and found that he is wanted in Canada for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery.
"A Brinks armoured truck was held up in June, 2004, and then again in August, 2004."
He is also wanted for another armed robbery and a home invasion in April 2004.
"I do not know if there is an extradition warrant out for him but that process is being initiated. He will appear in court, but not before Wednesday."
Mr. Forrester is linked to a June 8 hold-up at the Danforth Supermarket on Silverstone Drive and an Aug. 23 robbery at a No Frills Store on Albion Road.
In both of those robberies, armed gunmen ambushed Brinks truck guards as they were taking cash out of the store.
Three suspects were arrested last December as they attempted to flee another hold-up at the Rizco Toy and Gift Outlet, on Caledonia Road.
One of the men, 45-year-old Junior Francis, had been deported twice to Jamaica.
He was arrested by Immigration officials in July 2004 but later released.
