Police investigating the shooting death of a Briton in Jamaica on Monday say that his murder was a contract killing.
Sean Patterson, 33, a personal trainer from West London, was visiting the Caribbean island on a short stay when he was chased by a gunman and shot several times.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Fitz Bailey said: ‘Our investigation so far has theorised that the murder was a contract killing that emanated from Britain. There is no evidence that Patterson was robbed or has any connection in Jamaica.
The commissioner went on to say that the Londoner was well known to British police: ‘From credible information received Sean Patterson was well known to the UK authorities and has an extensive criminal record for a number of criminal offences which includes narcotics violence and firearms.’
Lesley Wright said her youngest son Sean Patterson, 33, had only been in the country for two days when he was murdered
The personal trainer was standing by the pool of the guesthouse where he was staying, pictured, in Jamaica when witnesses heard ‘loud explosions’
Patterson is pictured in younger days
Local police say Patterson was found with gunshot wounds to his upper body and head at around midday on Monday.
Jamaica Constabulary Force says its Montego Bay officers received reports that the British national was standing by a pool at the villa when witnesses heard ‘loud explosions’.
According to a published report in Jamaica, Mr. Patterson was then shot multiple times after a short chase. He was rushed to the hospital but was later pronounced dead.
A 34-year-old man from Kingston, Jamaica, has been now taken into custody in connection with the incident, according to local media. Reports in Jamaica claimed the suspect had been deported from the UK in 2013 for drug offences.
Meanwhile, Patterson’s heartbroken mother today told how her son had travelled to the Caribbean island for the first time to meet family.
Lesley Wright said her youngest son Patterson had only been in the country for two days when he was murdered.
He lived with his fiancee in Hounslow, west London, and the couple were planning on marrying later this year.
Local police say Patterson (pictured) was found with gunshot wounds to his upper body and head at around midday on Monday
Sean’s mother said: ‘He’d been having the time of his life. He’d never been [to Jamaica] before but sent me a photo of himself basking in the sunshine and a video of himself leaping off a cliff into the sea (pictured)’
Speaking to MailOnline at her home in Shepherds Bush, west London, Mrs Wright, 63, said: ‘I’ve lost my baby. No mother should have to bury her child.
‘He’d gone to Jamaica with my godson and one of my best friends and had only been there for two days.
‘He’d been having the time of his life. He’d never been before but sent me a photo of himself basking in the sunshine and a video of himself leaping off a cliff into the sea.
‘Sean has family in Jamaica through his father. They are very well-to-do over there and he’d hoped to meet them. He never got the chance.’
Mrs Wright added: ‘The local police have told me that Sean was at a big party over New Year and was sitting by a pool talking to friends.
‘Someone pulled at his arm and he shrugged the person off but about four gunshots were fired immediately afterwards and Sean was hit in the upper body.
Mr Patterson, from west London, was taken to hospital but could not be saved. This image shows the view from the guesthouse where he was shot
‘I don’t know any other details but he wouldn’t quarrel with anyone, he just wasn’t the argumentative type.
‘I’m absolutely broken, I’ll never be the same again.
‘He has four sisters and three brothers and he was the youngest. He was born premature and for a while it was touch and go as to whether he would survive.
‘But he grew up to be the loveliest, sweetest boy and the kindest, most happy-go-lucky man.
‘He worked as a personal trainer and had been with his girlfriend for about 13 or 14 years. They’d got engaged about five years ago and were hoping to marry later this year.
‘They lived in Hounslow and had a dog. His fiancee is in bits, devastated. As the whole family are.
Speaking to local media, the father of Sean Patterson said his son was killed days after arriving in the Caribbean outside a guest house in St James
‘People say that Jamaica is a paradise but there is a lot of violence there, so many guns and so much poverty.
‘We hope for justice and that my son’s killer is taken off the street where they can’t hurt anyone else and destroy another family.
‘Sean was a diamond who shone bright and when he shone, he lit up everyone’s life.’
Speaking to local media, Patterson’s father, Alan, said his son was ‘starting to live his life and find himself’ in Jamaica.
‘I’m trying to process this. I’m Jamaican parentage, I’ve been to Jamaica, all the family has been to Jamaica,’ Alan Patterson said.
‘We need justice, we want justice, he deserves justice because he was somebody.’
A family source told MailOnline that a man being held on suspicion of Sean’s murder had previously lived in London but was deported back to Jamaica.
The source said: ‘Sean had been friends with the man when he lived in the UK and had sent him money, trainers and clothing when he was sent back to Jamaica.
‘What he has got to do with it we just don’t know yet but he’s in custody in Jamaica and is apparently involved somehow.’
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson confirmed they are currently ‘supporting the family of a British man who died in Jamaica and are in contact with the local authorities’.