DWAYNE McLEOD, Staff Reporter

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ruled that dancehall artiste Bounty Killer is to be charged in connection with a gun-related incident in 2007.

The deejay, real name Rodney Price, is now a person of interest for the Half-Way Tree police and is expected to be formally charged soon.

Crime chief for the St Andrew Central Division, Deputy Super-intendent Michael Phipps, confirmed that the police had received the ruling.

"The ruling was completed on June 23 and he is to be charged with illegal possession of firearm and wounding," DSP Phipps told THE WEEKEND STAR.

The incident in question is alleged to have occurred on September 27, 2007, after an off-duty policeman left a club on St Lucia Avenue in New Kingston, St Andrew, about 4:50 a.m.

car blocking road

The lawman is said to have seen a number of vehicles blocking a section of the roadway.

Several men including Price and the now deceased dancer David Alexander Smith, more popularly known as 'Ice', were allegedly at the scene.

The policeman is said to have tried to get the men to move the vehicles but was reportedly assaulted and fired at.

A report was subsequently made to the New Kingston police and a file later sent to the Office of the DPP for a ruling to be made.

Price already has two cases before the courts. A July 29 trial date is scheduled for a matter before the Traffic Court where he is charged with obstructing traffic and disobeying a red light.

Just last week, the deejay made headlines after he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court to answer to a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm. He is accused of assaulting a pregnant woman in that incident and will face trial on September 10.

Bounty Killer is known for songs like Poor People Fed Up and Look Into My Eyes.