Bogle’s Murder Remains an ‘Unsolved Mystery’ 20 Years Later

20 years ago, on January 20, 2005, Gerald Levy, more popularly known as Bogle, was shot and killed. Following his death, multiple rumours began circulating, and several theories remain today.

The Jamaican dancer was the originator of several culturally iconic Dancehall moves like the Wacky Dip and the Willy Bounce. According to a newly released video on the true-crime podcast Watson’s World, before his popularity, the Trench Town native appeared on Jamaican TV shows such as Where It’s At and Ring Ding.

Bogle’s personality was as infectious as his dance moves, and his unique flair and street style inspired not only other dancers but artistes. At the height of his dancing career, his fame in Jamaica grew to almost that of one of the many Dancehall artistes that ruled the 90s and early 2000s.

Bogle was one of the founding members of the Black Roses Crew of Lincoln Crescent (Roses Corner) in Kingston 13. He became the most prominent dancer in Jamaica and was featured in music videos and name-dropped in multiple songs.

However, his life in Kingston as a member of the Black Roses was not only one of glitz and glamour. The Black Roses were led by William ‘Willie Haggart’ Moore, an alleged Arnett Gardens enforcer and community don who many was well connected in Kingston.

Moore and Bogle were very close friends and could be seen at parties together. However, in April 2001 that friendship would come to an end, not by choice but by the hands of gunmen.

Moore and two other men, Albert “Blacka Douche” Bonner and Lowell “Big Bunny” Hinds, were gunned down in Arnett Gardens in what some described as a gang-style killing. After Moore’s murder, Bogle reportedly began receiving threats, and attempts were made to kidnap him on multiple occasions. Fearing for his life, the dancer temporarily left Jamaica and went to the United States.

During Bogle’s absence, another member of the Black Roses Crew, John ‘John Hype’ Prendergast, would rise in popularity. John Hype left the Black Roses and became close friends with Beenie Man, who endorsed the dancer.

After his return to Jamaica, Bogle was reportedly not very fond of the idea of his former protégé taking the spotlight. As their former friendship turned into a rivalry, the dancers turned to music, targeting each other in diss tracks.

Shortly before Bogle’s murder, Beenie Man added fuel to the fire when he allegedly called him old news while on stage at the Asylum nightclub. Bogle was reportedly visibly hurt by Beenie Man’s statement.

On the night of his death, Bogle, ever the theatric, set loose two chickens he had carried in a suitcase at the popular Weddy Weddy street dance. One of the chickens made its way over to Beenie Man and his entourage.

Due to events of the past, some present viewed the incident as disrespectful. However, others laughed it off.

Beenie Man and Bogle later left the event, with Bogle and his crew driving to a gas station ahead of a planned visit to another party. After Bogle and his friends pulled into an Esso gas station on Constant Spring Road, two men on an F4 motorbike pulled up to the dancer’s Ford F-150.

The men opened fire on all five inhabitants of the vehicle. Bogle and another male passenger died from the gunshot wounds they sustained.

Just a few hours later, John Hype’s house on Dillion Avenue was firebombed, and rumours began spreading like wildfire. The firebombing of John Hype’s home was retaliation for Bogle’s death.

Beenie Man also fell under suspicion. With the Weddy Weddy incident still fresh in many people’s minds, some accused the deejay of being involved in Bogle’s murder.

However, no evidence was ever discovered to implicate John Hype nor Beenie Man. The artiste denied the rumours, even offering a $1,000,000 reward for any information that would help the murder investigation.

Some theories that have developed over the years point to Bogle’s relationship with Moore, which seemingly made him a target before his rivalry with John Hype and Beenie Man. Others place the blame on Bogle’s community of ‘Jungle’, which was and remains plagued with crime.

Despite the collection of forensic evidence and witness statements from the survivors of the shooting, no suspects were ever named. Years later, Bogle’s death, once a fixture in the news, has joined the long list of unsolved murders in Jamaica.

Learn more in the video below.