Gregory Park explodes with rage after cops shoot teen
Published:Monday | September 19, 2022 | 12:10 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
A teenager was hospitalised after being shot by police patrolling an area known as Gulf in Gregory Park, St Catherine, Sunday morning.
The shooting triggered backlash from residents disputing the police account of the incident.
Separate probes have been launched by the Independent Commission of Investigations and the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau.
“The youth never have no gun. A shop him come, him and the other youth. When mi reach them, one man inna the yard with gunshot inna him and the police stand up over him nah do nothing fi help him,” said an unidentified resident who reported having witnessed the incident.
The police reported that law enforcers were on patrol when they were allegedly fired on by two men, who ran on to premises. The police said they gave chase and returned the fire, hitting one of the men.
Angry residents reportedly attacked the lawmen and tried to prevent them from apprehending the males. The cops then called for reinforcement.
The wounded teen was taken to hospital, where he is said to be in stable condition. The other man was taken into custody.
Another resident who claimed that he saw what transpired – and intervened with other residents to assist the injured man – also disputed the police account of the incident.
“We have to get mad and tear off the gate because they have him on the ground and nuh want to take him up and have the other one in handcuff,” he told The Gleaner.
The resident, who claimed to have accompanied the injured teen to hospital, reported that the wounded man repeatedly said that he was just coming from the shop when he was shot.
The owner of the grocery shop where the two men allegedly had visited said that she heard explosions ring out shortly after the men departed her business place.
Deputy Superintendent Michael Campbell, who led the St Catherine South police team who responded to the calls for backup, said they encountered a hostile crowd when they arrived on the scene.
“We came in based on what was reported, had a meeting with them, and defused the situation,” the cop told The Gleaner.
Campbell said no firearm was recovered from the scene.