INDECOM probing two police shootings in Hanover and St Catherine

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is probing two separate fatal shooting incidents involving the police on Thursday in St Catherine and Hanover.

The deceased men have been identified as 23-year-old Mark Lewis and 23-year-old Jermaine Campbell.

INDECOM says the police report that a joint police and military operation was being conducted in the Africa area of Old Harbour, St Catherine, when officers proceeded to a house on Burke Road.

The officers allegedly entered the house and Lewis pointed a firearm in their direction. One officer reportedly fired at Lewis, who was injured and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The second fatal shooting incident occurred in Kendal district, Green Island in Hanover.

It is reported that a surveillance team was on patrol, when Campbell was observed behaving suspiciously.  

Campbell is reported to have fired at the officers who returned fire at him, resulting in gunshot injuries. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. 

The police say a firearm was recovered from each incident scene.

INDECOM says the scenes were examined, processed and evidential material recovered. The hands of the deceased men were swabbed for DNA testing and their bodies were photographed and sealed, pending post mortem examinations.

Year to date, 85 people have been shot and killed by the security forces, of which 10 occurred in July.

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