Alleged machete attacker shot by cops

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is probing a shooting in Wakefield, Trelawny, yesterday, which resulted in the death of a man who reportedly attacked a cop with two machetes.

For much of yesterday morning, the police were maintaining a strong presence in Wakefield as residents set up roadblocks to protest the killing of 29-year-old tailor Jeffery Richards, who was shot dead at his house in the community sometime before 1:30 a.m.

Carlos Russell, deputy superintendent in charge of operations in the Trelawny Division, said Kerr was killed after he attacked members of a police team who went to his house to execute a search warrant.

"The police went to execute a search warrant and also to warn him (Richards) for some threats he had been issuing to members of the community," said Russell.

"When the police arrived there, he attacked a member of the team, wielding two machetes.

The member fell to the ground and he continued to advance to the member with the machetes, and the member, in fear of his life, defended himself."

Richards was subsequently pronounced dead at the Falmouth Hospital.

"INDECOM has been here from this morning conducting investigations, so there is transparency on what is happening, and I am sure the residents will get closure," said Russell. "The police are maintaining a presence in the area to ensure that there is calm and to reassure the residents."

Meanwhile, Councillor Jonathan Bartley of the Wakefield Division is calling for the police to repair their relations with the residents, which have been strained following Richards's death.

"I am calling on the authorities to come and say something to the youngsters, so they can continue to have confidence in the police. We need the police, and the police will have to be in the community, but this incident needs to be explained," Bartley urged.