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Hugh Faulkner of INDECOM, speaking with Radio Jamaica News
A strong police and military presence is being maintained in sections of Denham Town in Western Kingston following a fatal shooting involving a member of the Jamaica Defence Force.
Preliminary reports reveal that West Kingston resident Horaine Glenn was fatally shot on Charles Street, allegedly during a confrontation with members of the JDF.
Denham Town residents claim though that Mr. Glenn was killed in cold blood.
According to police sources, sometime after six o'clock yesterday evening, JDF personnel were on foot patrol on Charles Street, in Denham Town.
It's reported that the soldiers saw a group of men who aroused the suspicion of the team.
The soldiers approached the men and requested a search of their persons.
It is said that a number of residents later converged on the scene behaving boisterously and that Mr. and proceeded to pour liquor on the JDF personnel.
A soldier reportedly attempted to take Mr Glenn into custody but he ran into a yard along Charles Street.
He was pursued by the soldier, resulting in a reported scuffle involving the soldier, an unidentified woman and Mr. Glen.
It is reported that during that incident the soldier fired four rounds from his rifle.
It was later discovered that Mr. Glenn had sustained gunshot wounds to his abdomen.
He was taken to hospital where he later died.
PROTEST
In the aftermath of the shooting, angry residents took to the streets blocking several roads leading to Charles Street and its environs.
Several of the blockades were also lit, resulting in a tense standoff between residents and members of the security forces.
Footage, reportedly from the incident, quickly went viral on social media.
Additional JDF and police personnel had to be dispatched as angry residents hurled abuse at the security forces while several explosions were heard.
Senior Superintendent Michael Phipps, commanding officer for the Kingston Western police division, has been in the community, alongside political representatives, trying to restore calm to the situation.
According to SSP Phipps Mr. Glenn was among men who were accosted by a JDF foot patrol and a confrontation developed, during which it is alleged he held onto a JDF member weapon, and in trying to relieve him of it, was shot in the process.
SSP Phipps urged residents to cooperate with the security forces and not to assault members of the joint forces, as there are reports of residents attacking them.
He added that representatives of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) have begun a probe and appealed to residents to refrain from mounting blockades.
INDECOM
Chairman of INDECOM Hugh Faulkner also told Radio Jamaica News that his agency's probe of the incident is at an advanced stage.
"The matter is being pursued vigorously," he said, adding that members of the affecteed family would be contacted by the appropriate INDECOM personnel.
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