Police kill three men in operation on Mandela Highway

 

Three men were fatally shot during a police operation along Mandela Highway on Wednesday morning. 

 

The men are said to be members of the Bird Nation Gang, based in the community of Lincoln Avenue in Kingston. 

 

The police have not released details on the incident, but Radio Jamaica News was informed that the operation was conducted by detectives of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigations Branch (C-TOC). 

 

One of the deceased has been identified as Saleem Fitzgerald, otherwise called 'Smeagle', who was wanted for several murders, including the fatal shooting of Police Corporal Christopher Smith along Beechwood Avenue last year.

 

Corporal Smith, who was attached to the Kingston Western Police Division, was shot dead when he drove into an armed robbery at a service station on Beechwood Avenue.

 

Several men have been charged in the case.

 

Smeagle was also wanted for the murder of a 16-year-old girl along Albion Avenue in the Kingston Western Police last year.

 

Meanwhile, Wednesday's fatal shootings bring to 272 the number of persons killed during reported confrontation with members of the security forces.

 

Eighteen fatal shootings have been recorded over the last 19 days in November.

 

Hugh Faulkner, head of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), has again called for the Police High Command to install body-worn cameras, especially in targeted police operations.

 

"In addressing or responding to data concerning fatal shootings involving the security forces, invariably the absence of body-worn cameras in planned police operations becomes a point for analysis. In 2025, as at July 31, deaths during police planned operations accounted for 51 per cent of all fatal incidents involving the security forces. For this reason, the distribution of body-worn cameras, the law enforcement personnel engaged in planned operations, seems an obvious and urgent necessity," Mr. Faulkner stressed.