21 bullets then silence

Ingrid Grandison’s heart is shattered by the heavy weight of grieving her 25-year-old son, Shane Grandison, who was shot more than 20 times by the police in Negril just over a year ago. The pain of her loss is deepened by the fear that has forced her into hiding after receiving anonymous death threats aimed at silencing her pursuit of justice.

Shane, who would have celebrated his 27th birthday last Thursday, was fatally shot after a car in which he was a passenger was stopped by the police in the Red Ground community in Negril in July 2023. Another man, Richard ‘Tupac’ Mosley, who was reportedly driving the vehicle and who the police said was a known gangster, was also shot dead in the incident.

The police reported that on the day in question, they received information about armed men travelling in a white Toyota Fielder and began a search for the vehicle. They claim the car was intercepted in the Red Ground community with three men on board. One of the men reportedly exited the vehicle and opened fire before fleeing into nearby bushes.

The police said they returned fire, resulting in Shane, who was still in the vehicle, being shot multiple times and dying on the spot. Mosley was also fatally shot. A firearm was reportedly recovered from the scene.

Ingrid has always maintained that her son was not a criminal. She has been using her social media accounts to openly share her struggles in the aftermath of his death. Her social media content is heavily focused on appealing for justice for Shane while sharing memories of the relationship they enjoyed.

Shane, who was pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Economics at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), took on the role of tour bus operator after his father passed away in 2020, helping to run the family business.

He harboured dreams of going into politics and operating a large transportation business with buses all over the island.

Those dreams were dashed with his tragic passing, and Ingrid said since then, her life “has been hell”.

Relocate out of fear

Not only is she impatiently waiting for the conclusion of an investigation by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), but death threats from anonymous social media accounts, some of which were seen by The Sunday Gleaner, have forced her to relocate out of fear. Despite this, she had not reported the threats to the police, largely due to a trust deficit arising from how her son was killed.

“It has been hell. I did not know that this could happen to me. My son has never given me any kind of rough time. He went to a prep school in Westmoreland, and then he went to Knox College. He went on to UTech, and he was there until his dad died in 2020. He took a leave of absence to help me run the family business because I had a stroke, and this little boy did not leave my side. He was always there if I called on him,” she bemoaned.

“The day they [killed] my son, it’s like they [killed] me, too, because I was left not knowing whether I wanted to live or die. Those thoughts keep coming up in my head because I don’t know how to live without my child. He was the very air I breathed. He loved me unconditionally, and he never cared who was there to show it. I have become a person who doesn’t trust anybody since my son’s death. I am also a sad person who cries every minute of the day,” Ingrid told The Sunday Gleaner.

URGED TO REPORT THREATS

While the origins of the threatening messages remain unknown, Deputy Superintendent of Police Shaunjaye Mitchell, operations officer for the Westmoreland Police Division, has sought to distance the police from the matter.

Mitchell was zone commander for the Negril police last year when the fatal shooting occurred.

“The Westmoreland police are not aware of any threats being issued, whether verbally or written, to anyone by the police, relative to the referenced matter,” he told The Sunday Gleaner. “In fact, we strongly condemn any form of intimidation or threats and assure the public that such behaviour does not align with the values of the force.”

He is urging Ingrid to file a formal complaint with the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau concerning the anonymous threats.

“Rest assured, her concerns will be taken seriously, and she has nothing to fear in making a formal report. We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, including those who wish to raise concerns about police conduct, should there be perceived misconduct,” Mitchell said.

“It is important to note that the investigation into the double fatal shooting, which involved her son and a known criminal gangster, Richard Mosley, otherwise called ‘Tupac’, is being conducted independently by INDECOM. This investigation is crucial to ensuring full transparency and accountability in the matter, and we fully support their work. The JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) remains committed to upholding the law, ensuring justice is served, and maintaining the trust and confidence of the community,” he added.

On Friday, INDECOM told The Sunday Gleaner that the matter was still under investigation.

“To date, a preliminary investigation report has been concluded. The commission is in the process of completing the final investigative report, which will then be followed by the commission’s report,” the agency said.

It explained that a commission’s report is a legal assessment and analysis of the investigative and forensic findings.

Shane was one of 155 people fatally shot by the police in 2023.

Several of his former teachers and colleague students – from prep school to university – have expressed shock at his tragic death under several of Ingrid’s social media posts, noting how well mannered, respectful and disciplined he was.

At Knox College, he was involved in several extracurricular activities. He rose to the presidency of the Boarders’ Council after serving in previous posts, including as manager of environment, health and safety. He was a member of the Students’ Council and also ran for vice-president of Region Six in the National Secondary Schools Council’s elections ahead of the 2016-2017 academic year. He was also an active member of the Cadet Unit, where he also took on a leadership role.

ON A MISSION TO CLEAR SON’S NAME

While referencing the police’s report that her son was killed during a confrontation, Ingrid said that her new life’s mission is to clear her son’s name.

She pointed to Shane’s accomplishments as a youngster before expressing further disbelief that her son was involved in any criminal activities. It was a point supported by speaker after speaker at his funeral, who noted that he had received a firearm licence from the Firearm Licensing Authority. They argued that without impeccable character, his application would not have been successful.

“My son had such a hard time with his dad’s death, so he took a leave of absence from UTech and was here with me. When they [killed] him, he was supposed to transfer ... to the Montego Bay campus so he could just drive over whenever he had class.

“If it was two people shooting, then there would have been two guns. They said they found one gun in the car,” said Ingrid.

The grieving mother disclosed that the autopsy revealed Shane was shot 21 times. His face was unrecognisable. She had to use a tattoo of an eagle he got across the chest after his father’s death to identify him. The pathologist noted that his brain was “literally destroyed”.

The autopsy report also noted that “there is no evidence of burning carbon depositions or burnt or unburnt gunpowder marks in [Shane’s] clothing”.

Ingrid said the family was forced to have a closed-casket funeral due to the state of Shane’s body.

“Every organ in my son’s upper body was either damaged or destroyed. ... When I got the autopsy report, for days I couldn’t eat; I could not sleep. I just cried because I just knew that my son was calling out for me. These people put my son through hell. They said his bladder was empty. That little boy was so humble. Even if I quarrelled with him, you would never hear him answer,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.

In addition to her grief and fear, Ingrid said that 15 months after his passing, she is yet to receive Shane’s death certificate.

“They said that his name was [misspelled], and his date of birth was incorrect, so they had to send it back,” she said.

The grieving mother said she has also been unable to get a form needed from the courts or the police to get the certificate.

“I have to get a D form from the court’s office, but each time we go, they send us to CIB (Criminal Investigations Bureau) and the CIB office sends us back to the court’s office every time we go,” she said.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com