INDECOM probing three more police fatal shootings in St. Catherine

By Kimone Witter    

 

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) says it is probing three police fatal shootings in separate incidents in St. Catherine on Thursday.

 

Two of the deceased were brothers.

 

They have been identified as 44-year-old Everton Spike and 33-year-old Jason Spike, both carpenters of Port Henderson Road, St. Catherine.

 

It's reported that about 7:45 p.m., a police team was on patrol along the Spanish Town Bypass when the brothers were spotted in the vicinity of Okra Lane, walking towards De la Vega City.

 

The men were accosted by the team but allegedly brandished guns and started firing at the police.

 

The fire was reportedly returned, and when the shooting subsided, both men were found wounded.

 

The police say two guns and seven rounds of ammunition were recovered from the brothers.

 

Another man, Rousanni Alexander, was fatally shot along Port Henderson Road during a reported tussle with police officers.

 

A firearm was also reportedly seized in that incident.

 

INDECOM says no body-worn cameras were reported as being issued or worn by the officers in any of the fatal shooting incidents.

 

The deaths of the three men have increased to 35 the number of people fatally shot by the security forces since January.

 

Seven of the deaths have occurred so far this month, compared with nine during the month of February last year.

 

Spanish Town in the St. Catherine North Police Division has been under a State of Public Emergency since January 28. 

 

 

In the meantime, there were delays for motorists on the Spanish Town Bypass on Friday morning after residents of Port Henderson Road blocked the road in the vicinity of De La Vega City to protest the fatal shooting of the Spike brothers.

 

The road is now clear for vehicular traffic.

 

The relatives of the brothers say they were hardworking and not known to be involved in crime.

 

Jason Spike's girlfriend told Radio Jamaica News that the community has been under surveillance by the police.

 

She said her boyfriend was processed by the police on several occasions and was this week listed as a person of interest. But he was questioned and released on Sunday.   

 

The family said the stigmatisation of the community has contributed to the deaths of their relatives. 

 

"They have labelled us to say that we are gangsters. They have labelled us to say we are hoodlums. They have labelled us to say that we have all the things that are not good, and when in fact it's not so. But society, the persons who are in government or in authority, they have labelled us and they have made up their minds that they will do what they need to do," lamented Jermaine Spike, a brother of Everton and Jason Spike who were fatally shot by the police. 

 

He called for a change in how the authorities interact with the community. 

 

"It has to take a community effort, a social intervention; not just sending out the security forces to come and just run in and out whenever there's a situation. Have conversation with us," he pleaded.