The firearm that gospel artiste Kassim 'Moses' Grant discharged during a dispute with an uncle-in-law in Mammee River, Gordon Town, St Andrew on Monday night, was illegal, the St Andrew North police say.

Police said the singer was not allowed, by law, to be carrying or using a firearm. "There is nothing to indicate that Moses was a licensed firearm holder," said acting Deputy Superintendent of Police Altemorth Campbell.

The police said reports in relation to Monday night's incident were that Moses and another family member had a dispute when he pulled a firearm and shot at the family member who ran.

That family member is said to have then informed a friend about the incident. The friend, Campbell said, approached Moses and inquired about the incident but the singer is said to have shot at him. The friend, who is said to be a licensed firearm holder, returned the fire and the gospel crooner ran. The body of the artiste was found yesterday morning in Mammee River.

A post-mortem report is being done to ascertain the cause of death, as there was no indication that Moses was shot. The police further said that they are not sure how the singer ended up in the river and it is unclear if he jumped off the bridge or fell.

Chain argument

When THE STAR visited the family house in Mammee River yesterday, distraught relatives spoke openly about the incident.

Moses' family member, who requested anonymity, said the men were arguing over a chain. "He (uncle-in-law) said that Kassim borrowed the chain and did not return it, but Kassim said he returned it," the family said.

She said the uncle-in-law then took the keys from Kassim's vehicle demanding that his chain be returned. "So when he did that Kassim asked that his keys be given back to him but it wasn't," she said. "It was then that he (Kassim) took out a gun and fired a shot across the river. He did not shoot at anybody. He was trying to scare the uncle-in-law into giving him back his key but he still did not give him."

Other family members at the location told THE STAR that the singer, upon not getting his keys, walked off. It was said that the uncle-in-law called a friend and told him of the situation. That friend then sped off in the direction that Moses went, shortly after which shots were heard.

Attempts to contact Moses' wife and uncle-in-law were unsuccessful.

Kassim 'Moses' Grant was popular for songs such as Salvation Story, Big Him Up, Di Real Big Man and When Di Tunda Roll.