Roy McGann (19341980) was the first government official killed in the history of Jamaica. He was a PNP politician serving as a member of the Parliament of Jamaica for St. Andrew parish. McGann was also the Deputy National Security Minister.

Campaign and death

McGann, from the People's National Party (PNP), was campaigning for reelection in the 1980 Jamaican general election. On October 14, he and his entourage of a few cars went to an opposition Labor Party rally in a Kingston suburb, at St. Andrew's Gordon Town square. A shootout also involving police ensued, killing him and his bodyguard. It was unclear who started the shooting or why he went there. There had been political violence since the announcement by Prime Minister Michael Manley in February of early elections, which eventually claimed more than 800 lives. Fears were circulating of a communist takeover because of the support of the leftist Workers Party of Jamaica to the PNP.

Roy McGann

McGann's replacement as a candidate was Lloyd 'Perry' Stultz, who lost to Joan Webley ().

Roy McGann

See also

Attempted assassination of Bob Marley

References

External links

Bloody hell! - Victims, ex-cop reflect on 1980 election violence (in Jamaican English).

Roy McGann

Killings of politicians

1934 births

1980 deaths

20th-century Jamaican politicians

Murder in 1980