Dr. Angela Brown Burke, Member of Parliament for St. Andrew South West - Gleaner file photo
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Member of Parliament Dr. Angela Brown Burke
Sections of Cockburn Gardens in St. Andrew remain on edge following Friday morning's fatal shooting of a man allegedly by the police.
The deceased has been identified as Jermaine Ferguson.
Residents mounted road blocks and set fire to debris at the Waltham Park and Hagley Park Road intersection on Friday.
The residents also blocked roads in the community resulting in a traffic pile-up.
The roadblocks have since been cleared.
Dr. Angela Brown Burke, the member of parliament for the area, said residents have agreed that they will protest peacefully against "individuals in the force who prey on their community and who intimidate and abuse individuals in the community."
The residents are planning protests for Saturday and Sunday.
Dr. Brown Burke said residents of Cockburn Gardens have expressed frustration that one of the cops involved in this particular incident has been targeting the community.
"One of the things they really want to say clearly and loudly and consistently is that this is an individual that they do not believe is fit and proper to be in the force because it is an individual who they believe is abusing his power," she revealed.
Details on the circumstances which led to Mr. Ferguson being shot have not been ascertained.
Police investigation
A statement from the police on Friday said the Inspectorate and Professional Responsibility Oversight Bureau is investigating the shooting of Mr. Ferguson.
It said about 8:10 a.m., the police were involved in a confrontation with a group of men, during which Mr. Ferguson was shot.
A Ruger semi-automatic pistol, containing 10 rounds of ammunition, was seized in the incident.
The police say residents protesting the incident damaged two service vehicles, burnt a private motor car and also injured a passing motorist with stones and other projectiles.
According to the police, in recent days, Cockburn Gardens has been impacted by an inter-gang feud between the York Avenue and Mahoe Drive gangs, following the murder of 28 year-old Rando Gunn, otherwise called 'Kino', a vendor of Hagley Park Road.
Mr. Gunn was shot and killed by gunmen at his stall on Mahoe Drive, Kingston 11 on Tuesday morning.
The police have since increased their presence in the area.
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