Teen killed in confrontation with cops

The mother of 18-year-old Oneil Chambers, who was shot in a confrontation with police on Tuesday night in Greenwich Town, Kingston, is adamant that her son was not a wrongdoer.

"Him never yet in any trouble, nobody never come to me yet bout him. Not even jail him never go. If you never did a behave yuh self and dem ting deh, so much people wouldn't like you. Him full a manners, him nah go pass anybody and no hail dem. He is also very responsible for his age, because a him help mi tek care of mi two daughters also," said an inconsolable Alicia Morris.

Killed in cold-blood

She said Oneil, known to his peers as 'Dari', not only hoped to play for the Reggae Boyz but was very good at construction. Angry residents mounted a roadblock yesterday as they protested Oneil's death. An alleged eyewitness said he was killed in cold-blood.

"After wi go in we hear police outside a say 'Police! Police!'. By the time wi reach outside, wi see di likkle boy pon him knee a say 'Officer, no kill mi, mi no have nutten'. Di fuss shot weh him get a inna him head and the bullet go through the bus," the person said, before alleging that the cop then shot Oneil the back.

The Independent Commission of Investigations, which is probing the shooting, says the police reported that about 10:45, a team was on patrol when a group of persons was seen at the gate of a premises. Upon seeing the police, it is alleged that the group dispersed, and one man remained and pointed a firearm at the cops. A policeman reportedly discharged his weapon in the direction of the man. The injured man was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was confirmed dead. A Springfield pistol bearing a serial number was reported as being retrieved at the scene by the police.