Ninja Man - File

Deejay Ninja Man is proclaiming his innocence following police reports that he is wanted for questioning about the murder of 20-year-old Ricardo Johnson last Tuesday.

Yesterday, it was reported that Ninja Man, real name Desmond Ballentine, was a person of interest to the police in the case involving the murder of Johnson, otherwise called Ricky Trooper.

According to the Constabulary Communication Network, about 11:15 a.m., Johnson was sweeping his yard in the company of a friend in the Marl Road area of Kingston, when a grey motor car with three men aboard drove up. An argument reportedly developed between one of the men and Johnson's friend. The vehicle left and later returned and the occupants opened fire, hitting Johnson, who later died at the Kingston Public Hospital. The police, however, say they have no reports that Johnson's friend was injured in the incident.

While Ninja Man was, at first, tight-lipped about the case, stating that he had nothing to say, he soon opened up to THE STAR proclaiming his innocence.

"My side of di story is dat I have nothing to say until there is a trial if dem charge me, caw mi nuh do nuting."

According to Ninja Man, his music career is going well and he wants to clear his name.

Live good

"Mi waan stay in peace. Mi live mi life quite good and Jamaica don't expect fi hear dis from me right now," he said. "Mi don't need dem to spread no propaganda pon me. Jamaica a look fi betta dan dis from me, yuh know, but dem people yah a tear me down. Me nah smoke no coke, mi nah do foolishness and through all weh a go on, we a hold on. Mi career a do good. So why dem fi a pick pon mi now? Gimme a break. Dat me a tell dem."

When THE STAR contacted the police, they explained that Ninja Man was to be questioned yesterday, however, there was some difficulty so the process was postponed until today.

"The investigation is still ongoing. He (Ninja Man) was to be questioned today, but it had to be put off until tomorrow," crime chief for the Hunt's Bay police, Deputy Superintendent Michael Phipps said yesterday.

Ninja Man also confirmed that he and his lawyer, Norma Linton, visited the police yesterday but had to return today to sort out his case.

Ninja Man is the founder of the One Umbrella Movement, a foundation created to promote peace in the Marl Road community. This is the latest case involving the entertainer. He has been questioned on rape charges and illegal possession of firearms, but was later acquitted.