35 people killed by cops since the start of the year
KINGSTON, Jamaica-The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has commenced investigations into the fatal double shooting of two brothers on the Spanish Town Bypass on Thursday, and a fatal shooting on the same day involving Roussani Alexander on the Port Henderson road in Portmore.
The three men were reportedly killed by lawnen.
These latest incidents pushed the number of people who have been fatally shot by the security forces so far this year to 35, seven of which occurred in this month.
Last year, nine people were fatally shot during the month of February.
INDECOM said its preliminary investigation into the death of Alexander suggested that his death transpired from a tussle between the now-deceased and police officers.
In the double fatal shooting, reports are that the police have suggested that it was a shootout which resulted in the fatal shooting of the brothers on the Spanish Town Bypass.
In each of the incidents, a firearm was reported as being seized from each deceased man. No body-worn cameras were reported as being issued or worn by the officers in any of the fatal shooting incidents.
On Thursday, security forces moved quickly to clear a roadblock mounted by residents near Okra Lane and Dela Vega City following the fatal shooting of the brothers by the security forces.
They have been identified as 44-year-old Everton Spike and 33-year-old Jason Spike, both carpenters of Port Henderson Road, St Catherine.
Angry residents are disputing the police’s version of events that led to their deaths.
It’s reported that about 7:45 pm a police team was on patrol along the Spanish Town Bypass when the two men were spotted in the vicinity of Okra Lane, walking towards Dela Vega City.
The men were accosted by the team but they allegedly brandished guns and started firing at the police.
In each of the incidents, a firearm was reported as being seized from each deceased man.
No body-worn cameras were reported as being issued or worn by the officers in any of the fatal shooting incidents.
“All incident scenes were examined, and the evidential material was recovered, processed and packaged. The hands of the deceased men were all swabbed for gunshot residue,” INDECOM said in a release.