Police corporal killed, girl (10) wounded in Sligoville shootout, St Catherine

A JCF corporal died and a 10-year-old girl was wounded during a Friday dawn operation in Sligoville. Rights group JFJ has called for an independent investigation.

Corporal Shaw killed in Sligoville gun battle; child among the injured

A police corporal was shot dead and a 10-year-old girl sustained gunshot injuries during a pre-dawn special operations raid in the Five Miles area of Sligoville, St Catherine, the Jamaica Observer reports.

Corporal Trevoy Shaw of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) Special Operations Branch was killed during the armed confrontation, which began at approximately 5:15 am on Friday. A second officer was shot and wounded, and a third policeman was also injured.

The operation had been launched to locate wanted men. Two suspects had barricaded themselves inside a house alongside other occupants, including the child, before opening fire on the security team.

The girl fled the premises during the exchange and was found with gunshot wounds. She was transported to Spanish Town Hospital, where her condition was described as serious but stable. The two barricaded men were fatally shot in the incident.

Human rights organisation Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) offered condolences to Shaw's family, colleagues and the broader JCF, while calling for the wounded child and injured officers to make a full recovery.

Executive Director Mickel Jackson said JFJ was awaiting the outcome of an independent inquiry by the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom).

"We mourn with the JCF family during this difficult time. We are also deeply concerned by the shooting and injury of the 10-year-old girl. We await the findings from the independent investigation by Indecom and further information from the JCF, including the circumstances that resulted in the child being caught in the exchange of gunfire," Jackson said.

Source: Jamaica Observer