L.A. Lewis says he was robbed at gunpoint

Maroon Emperor L.A. Lewis says he narrowly escaped serious harm on Tuesday night after he was allegedly robbed at gunpoint during an event in Charles Town, Portland.

Lewis claims the incident unfolded shortly after a maroon celebration where he had been mingling with guests and was engaging in charitable giving to attendees.

“Mi deh there a give the people dem some money, and a gwane support dem. All of a sudden mi see one of the artiste entourage come say somebody call mi,” Lewis said.

Lewis said he and his security team moved to the area after being called, where he saw an entertainer but did not receive any direct communication. He said a man accused him of having a laptop and documents belonging to another person, which he denied before walking away. Lewis said he initially brushed off the exchange and continued assisting members of the public who had gathered around him seeking help.

"Mi start buy the people dem some food and a gwane give away money. Mi give away about $200,000 and seh mi a go back a mi car fi some more money. By the time mi sit down in the car and di same man dat mi see come back and pop off a black gun on mi, and a say mi must come out the car,” Lewis claimed.

He said a man, who he recognised as the head of the pack, told him to “stop run the Maroon government” because “a him in charge, so him ago need mi laptop and documents".

He alleged that two men then searched his vehicle and removed a laptop bag containing cash and a mobile phone.

"Mi laptop never inna the bag, a just the money and phone,” Lewis said.

Lewis said the bag contained US$2,800, J$300,000 and CAD$200, stating that some of the funds had been collected earlier in the day for providing Maroon-related documents. 

“Dem a seh mi must cease to run mi maroon government, but mi nah go do it because mi have offices all over the world," he said.

Lewis, who leads the Nyan Ka Pong Maroon Government, believes he was specifically targeted because of his influence, claiming jealousy played a role in the attack. 

“All a dis a just pure badmind because mi is a rich man,” he said.

A senior member of the Charles Town Maroon community told THE STAR that he was alerted to the incident and immediately intervened, instructing both parties to leave the festival grounds to prevent further escalation.

“I asked them to leave our grounds as we didn’t want any form of confrontation there. The event was close to ending, but we just didn’t want it there,” he said.

“We didn’t feel good about it … No one from the council liked what took place,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lewis insists he will not be intimidated into shutting down his organisation and says he will instead strengthen his spiritual and physical protection.

"Right now mi just a guh top up mi ring with more protection and increase mi security,” he said.

 Lewis said he believes the stolen money has likely already been spent but is appealing for the return of his phone, which he says contains important information

The matter has been reported to the Buff Bay Police Station in Portland, where investigations are said to be ongoing