Alleged cop killer gunned down

Family members of Jermaine Bennett, the police constable who was murdered in Gregory Park, St Catherine, last week, are today breathing a sigh of relief that the main suspect in the killing was killed by police yesterday.

Simone Lawrence, the constable's sister, while saluting the cops for their quick action in locating her brother's killer, noted that her family members are still dealing with the reality of their tragic loss.

"Mi glad say dem catch him but mi still heartbroken because his death still will not bring back mi brother. His death cannot replace my brother but I am glad that justice has been served and he will not get a chance to hurt anymore innocent people. I am glad he will never let another family be in anymore mourning," she said.

Did not release the name

Police did not release the name of the man, who was killed yesterday in what the lawmen called a shoot-out. Head of the St Catherine South Police Division, Senior Superintendent Clive Blair, told THE STAR that the man was shot after a confrontation with the police about 4:20 p.m.

"The police were in operation in the Waterford Area, along Chatsworth Road, where they were greeted with gunfire by a man armed with a weapon. The fire was returned and he was shot and injured and he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead," Blair said.

He said two firearms were recovered from the scene.

Constable Bennett was shot dead by gunmen after he had gone to visit his five-week-old daughter on Tuesday, March 30, in Gregory Park.

"His death just nah connect at all. Everything seems so unreal. Mi still can't eat and mi still hide and cry because I can't allow his children to see mi crying. I have to be strong for them," Lawrence said.

"His children would normally spend the holidays and some weekends with me so mi still a expect him to call and check up on us. More time him big son a play games and yuh just hear him say 'mi and mi fada use to play dah game here' and it just break mi heart," Lawrence added.