Man allegedly of unsound mind killed in St James

Tawana Scarlett, whose brother, Shamar, was killed on November 13 after being attacked by angry residents in Comfort Hall, St James, believes that he was struggling with mental issues.

According to police reports, Shamar, 24, who was suspected of burning down an elderly person's house, was chopped and beaten by residents. He was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Scarlett, who lives in another parish, said she heard that her brother was standing at a corner shop when he was attacked.

"He didn't realise that the men were heading to him, but someone at the shop told him; but it was too late. He couldn't run again, as they rushed down on him and began chopping him. They chopped him in his head and on his hand," she said. It is alleged that Shamar tried to run but fell in a nearby ditch.

"I heard it took some time for the police to take him out because they were asking persons for help, but no one volunteered. By the time the fire brigade came to take him out, he was already dead," she added between tears.

Scarlett said she was told that Shamar had been acting strangely following a break-up with his girlfriend.

"He was in Spanish Town but said he was going to visit a family member; but he was uncertain where exactly they lived. He didn't have any fare, so I sent his fare for him to return to St James. But he had called me later to tell me he was hungry and he purchased food with the money. He was also saying some really rude stuff to me and that was not like him, because Shamar and I are very close. He also stated that he was staying with someone in Spanish Town and he returned home a few weeks later," she said.

A few weeks later, Scarlett said she got a strange phone call from the woman Shamar said he was staying with.

"The woman said he won the Lotto and he want me to go and help him to pick it up. I told her I didn't have the time to do it, and [asked her] why didn't she go and help him to pick up his Lotto cheque," she said.

Scarlett said months later, her mother told her that she was getting reports that Shamar was acting violently.

"He sounded like he was going off and persons were saying that he always had a machete with him. I don't know if it is true, but that was what I heard. He sounded like he had a mental problem. No one took him to get medical attention. We are in a family group chat, so I asked why they didn't call the police, and they said they did but the police only [came] and took statements," she said. "It (his killing) is heartless, because Shamar just wanted help. He wasn't in his right mind when he did what he did, but he didn't deserve death."