Just two years after an infamous religious cult barred police officers from gaining access to its Montego Bay-based premises to check on the safety of girls reportedly being held against their will, Jamaicans awoke this morning (October 18) to the terrifying revelation that cultism is far more prevalent than previously thought as a deadly confrontation rocked the second city last night. 

The same day as self-proclaimed ‘God’ Kevin Smith told his congregation islandwide to make their way to the Albion Road-based Pathways Christian Cathedral (PCC), as his ‘ark was about to load the souls of his flock’, gunshots rang out sometime around 7:00 pm on Sunday.

According to preliminary details provided by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), a standoff ensued for nearly two hours, with police personnel finally gaining access to the premises at about 9:00 pm. 

In the wake of the harrowing ordeal, three people lay dead—one fatally shot by the police, one with stab wounds, and another person’s body found with bullet wounds—three others were seriously injured and several more taken into police custody. 

The identities of the three deceased were not yet known.

A representative from the JCF’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) told Our Today that teams from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) were also called to the scene to assist.  

Additionally, a report was made to INDECOM. 

Head of the St James Police Division, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vernon Ellis confirmed the fatal cult incident in a late-night media briefing. 

“There was a situation where a religious group, what we describe as a cult, called in members from all over the island to gather at this location. During the whole process, some persons were stabbed by other members of the group, persons went to hospital [and] the police was called in,” Ellis explained.

“When the police came, the police was greeted with gunfire from the leader of the congregation and other members. Police acted swiftly to get the situation under control and a suspect was neutralised in the process,” he added.

‘Excellency’ Kevin Smith, the leader of the cult, went on a ‘prophetic’ tirade before the deadly incident, urging his ‘flock’ to be prepared for the coming ‘flood’.

In a series of Facebook posts obtained by Our Today, Smith reminded his congregants that anyone baptised by his hand “must be aware” that they “work in the nights and sleep in the days”.

“You must wash yourself before you sleep. Do not use anything that is not natural. Do not put any products in your hair. Must be natural no oils no oils no lotions. Through them out. No under arm sprays nothing except what is natural oils from the field. I am His Excellency Dr Kevin O Smith D.Min Crown Bishop and End Time Nabi of HIM CONQUEROR LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS YESUS CHRISTOS the One True and living God 999 (sic),” Smith began. 

The posts became more erratic as Sunday progressed, as Smith shared YouTube tutorials instructing PCC members to disable the microphone and camera sensors built-in on their smartphones. 

He also warned that a cruise ship destined to Grand Cayman from Barbados this December would sink as a “Roman Catholic sacrifice” and that no one would survive. 

The last two posts eerily heralded the horrors to come as he urged his cathedral members to run from the coming flood. 

“PCC Go Immediately today now The Flood is coming. Go Now RUN
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY
LEave Immediately
Leave Immediately Run
All who were sealed yesterday come Now,” Smith wrote.

“THE ARK is Loading now!
123 Albion Road.
Leave Immediately dressed in White
PCC Registered ONLY NoW,” he said.

The incident serves as a reminder of the November 5, 2019 case in Paradise, St James, where police raided the Qahal Yahweh church and released several teenaged girls who were reportedly being held against their will – cut off from contact with outside society.