A well-known TikTok personality, Jabari Johnson, also known by his online handle ‘Baba Skeng’, was tragically murdered during a livestream on Monday evening in Saint Andrew, Jamaica. The 25-year-old influencer was recording content with another TikToker when the fatal shooting occurred. The chilling incident took place around 6:30 pm near Queenie’s Snack Shop on Red Hills Road.
According to eyewitnesses, Johnson was seen laughing and chatting with his friend moments before the attack. A masked gunman, dressed entirely in black, approached from behind and opened fire at close range. The shooter struck Johnson multiple times in the head and upper body. The young influencer collapsed to the ground, and the sounds of terrified screams filled the air. After the attack, the gunman fled the scene on foot.
Johnson, who was the son of renowned reggae artist Jah Mason, was pronounced dead at the scene. Despite attempts to gather information from the local police, authorities have yet to release a detailed statement on the incident. The police in the St Andrew North Police Division have initiated an investigation into the murder, though no suspects have been identified so far.
The tragic killing follows a series of similar incidents involving prominent Jamaican TikTok personalities. Johnson’s death adds to a disturbing trend of targeted violence against social media influencers in the region. In December 2024, Marlon Samuels, known online as ’41 Busshead’, was fatally shot in Montego Bay. Just two weeks earlier, Xavier ‘Niah Gang’ Fogah, 23, was gunned down in St Catherine. And in September 2024, another rising star, Keauno ‘Popsy’ Watson, was murdered by a group of armed assailants. These recent events have raised concerns about the safety of social media influencers, particularly those in the public eye in Jamaica.
While this wave of killings has primarily affected Jamaican TikTok personalities, the trend is not isolated to the island. Last December, TikTok star Gordo Percui, whose real name was Leovardo Asipuro Soto, and his wife Brenda Félix were killed in a gang-related attack in Culiacán, Mexico. The attack left Soto dead at the scene, while his wife succumbed to her injuries later in the hospital.
The growing number of high-profile deaths of young influencers has sparked widespread concern, with many questioning the reasons behind the violence. While some speculate that the killings may be related to local gang violence, others believe that the increasing fame of TikTok personalities may make them targets for rival groups or individuals seeking to gain control over the online space.
As the investigation into Johnson’s death unfolds, there are calls for increased security measures for social media influencers and a greater awareness of the dangers they face. The loss of a beloved figure like Baba Skeng has left a deep impact on the TikTok community, and many are mourning the senseless killing of a young life with so much potential. Johnson’s family, still grappling with the shock of his untimely passing, has yet to provide further comments. The grief-stricken community is left to reflect on the fragility of fame in the age of social media and the dangers that can lurk behind the lens.
