Man shot in parking row
Published:Friday | December 18, 2020 | 12:28 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
It was a sombre mood on Thursday at Azan’s Superstore in Cross Roads, St Andrew, after an attendant was shot, reportedly by an off-duty soldier, after he advised the army man that he could not park in an area.
Kamaal Azan, general manager, told The Gleaner that his staff member was shot while doing his job.
“An argument ensued and the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) man came out and shot him,” Azan said.
The shooting is said to have taken place in full view of another member of the security forces who was going about their private business.
Azan told The Gleaner yesterday that his employee was in surgery and that they were hoping for the best.
“He is very unstable. He has lost a lot of blood, and if he makes it through, he will be in ICU (intensive care unit) for a while,” he said.
A vendor who saw the commotion in the aftermath of the shooting said the explosions alerted her to what was taking place.
“I just heard the shots, and when I looked around, I saw the crowd [and] I saw the person on the ground,” she said.
When contacted, Major Basil Jarrett, civil/military cooperation and media officer of the JCF, declined comment because he was on leave. He referred our newsroom to the communication unit, but calls to that office were not answered up to press time.
The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) told The Gleaner that it had not received any report on the incident.
“Generally, if it is an off-duty soldier. INDECOM would not be investigating the incident,” Public Relations Officer Denyelle Anderson said.
The police, who confirmed the reports, said investigations were ongoing.