Man allegedly kills his mother

Jason McKay, CEO of McKay Security, has defended the actions of one of his security officers who yesterday shot and killed a man who is allegedly of unsound mind following a bizarre series of events in St Catherine.

It is alleged that the man, who the police up to press time had not identified, killed his mother at their home in Greater Portmore, St Catherine, before fleeing the scene. Moments later, the man reportedly approached a security guard who was sitting in his white Toyota Succeed motor car near a guard house located in the Phoenix Park community in the parish.

A tussle ensued after the man allegedly threatened to kill the security guard, who managed to escape from the car through a back door. The guard allegedly alerted one of his colleagues after the man stole his car. The report further stated that another security guard confronted the man and opened fire in his direction. The man was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

McKay told THE STAR that he was saddened by the tragic events but stressed that his men would have acted appropriately in the face of danger.

"It is certainly a tragedy whenever lives are lost, both the lady who was killed by the mentally ill and the young man subsequent lost his life. It is really unfortunate that this has happened," he said. "The incident is under investigation so it wouldn't be proper for the company to comment until the police would have completed their investigation. But I am sure they would have done what they felt was necessary to protect their lives."

McKay also disclosed that he has spoken to both employees since the incident and that his company has already started the process of counselling for both men.

"I am happy that they have survived the incidents. We are dealing with the normal post traumatic process that occurs when these things happen. We have to ensure that their mental well-being is being taken care of. Right now we are just trying to give them all the support that we can," he said.

THE STAR could not get a comment from the police on the matter as calls to the cell phone of Superintendent Christopher Phillips, who is the head of the St Catherine South Police Division, went straight to vociemail.