Diandra Grandison, Staff Reporter
A Clarendon community is in mourning after one of their own was allegedly shot and killed by police officers during a gun salute at a dance on the weekend.
Information reaching THE WEEKEND STAR is that early Sunday morning, the now-deceased was a patron at a dance that was reportedly held by a policeman who hails from the parish.
According to reports, while the song of a popular dancehall artiste was being played, a group of armed cops ran into the crowd and began firing shots in approval of the song and the now-deceased, 23, was accidentally shot.
"He was at the party with a couple friends in Mullet Hall and they were walking; looking to go to the other side of the venue, when the officers who were under a tarpaulin rushed out and did a gun salute for a Kartel song, and he got shot," a close friend of the deceased said.
Residents said the deceased was shot in the head and two other parts of his body. Acting head of the Clarendon Division, Superintendent Carol McKenzie, told THE WEEKEND STAR he is aware of the incident, but cannot confirm if the deceased was shot by the police.
"An allegation is that the police in attendance at the dance fired their weapons. There is currently no statement implicating the officers. Investigations have identified three police officers and one civilian who fired at the dance. Based on our preliminary investigation, the warhead is lodged in the deceased and we are awaiting forensic evidence," McKenzie said.
He revealed that one of the cops has been removed from front-line duties.
"One of the officers who is based in Chapleton has been removed. One of the officers is not from this division, but is being dealt with by that division, and the third officer is on sick leave, so as soon as he (recovers), we will interview him," the superintendent said.
The police have seized four firearms, two of which are licensed firearms. One of the policemen was not using a service weapon at the time.
The senior cop is pleading with witnesses to come forward to assist the investigation.
"We want other independent statements. So far, we cannot say if it's an officer that did the shooting. We don't want to rely solely on forensics. I am calling for residents to come forward and give statements because hearsay and rumour won't help the matter. We would like someone who saw what happened to come forward."
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