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The aunt and mother of the man killed in an alleged confrontation with members of the security forces in Lakes Pen, St. Catherine on Thursday morning
By Nakinskie Robinson
An illegal diesel and gas operation was disrupted during an early morning joint police/military operation in Lakes Pen, St. Catherine.
The police say two sheds believed to be used for illegal distribution of the fuel were discovered around 4:30 a.m. when officers attached to the St. Catherine North Division, joined by members of the military, carried out the operation.
The police say a Glock 19 firearm along with four rounds of ammunition was recovered.
But relatives of a man who was allegedly shot and killed by officers during the raid, are crying foul.
The man has been identified by relatives as 22-year-old Richard Thomas, of Lakes Pen.
His aunt claims that officers had been extorting money from Mr. Thomas for the sale of the illegal gas and diesel fuel.
"A dem come collect dem money. When it touch Friday, it woulda feel like Lakes Pen a police station di way how police down yah a collect dem money.... By you check di next day, dem come back fi money again," she alleged.
She further claimed that a dispute at a birthday party last Friday triggered Thursday morning's incident.
The man's mother, Carlene, called for the authorities to explain their actions.
She argued that her son did not have a gun, that he let in the police who had come to his home with a warrant, but that the police placed his partner and baby in another room before shooting her son.
"The gas oil weh inna di yard belong to di same police dem, and di phone weh dem tek from him, dem number inna di phone 'cause dem mix up inna everyting, so dats why dem heng on pon di phone," she contended.
The Independent Commission of Investigations is probing the incident.
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