Rose Heights tense

• Controversial police killings spark protest

Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporter

Despite the Independent Commission of Investigation, INDECOM, launching a probe into Thursday’s fatal shooting by the police of two young men in Rose Heights, Montego Bay, the situation remains tense in the area today, as residents continue to discount the police’s report of the incident, charging that the two young men are innocent and were killed in cold blood.

Residents took to the streets in the aftermath, venting their anger, calling for justice for the 20-year-old and 22-year-old who they say were no wrong doers.

Sterling’s mother argued that he was not involved in any wrongdoing.

“My son was not involved in anything wrong. I don’t know of it,” she said.  

One very vocal resident said:

“The police dem come and run wi off the road and rise up dem big gun and shoot up di place and kill Oshane. Him nuh inna no wrongdoing.” 

However, a very terse report from the police indicates that Sterling and another man, later identified as Byfield, were shot during a confrontation with the police and one 9mm Browning pistol with a magazine containing two 9mm cartridges was seized.

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The residents shot down that account arguing that it was the police who went to their vehicle and fetched the gun which they then planted at the scene and subsequently claimed that they had seized it from the two young men.

Meanwhile, the three weapons used in the shooting death of Sterling and Byfield have been seized and sent off to the government’s forensic laboratory for testing and the three police officers involved will be interviewed by the Independent Commission of Investigation, INDECOM, who have launched a probe into the incident.

Errol Chattoo, Director of Complaints of INDECOM’s Western Region, told the Western Mirror that they are now appealing for the testimonies of eye witnesses.

“The weapons have been collected and sent to the government’s forensic laboratory for ballistic testing along with any forensic material found on the scene”, Chattoo explained.  “We are now appealing for residents who have seen anything to come forward and tell us what they know.”

Chattoo, in the meantime, said they are awaiting the results of the post mortem examination to further inform their investigation.