14-y-o killed in alleged shoot-out

Strings of insults were hurled at members of the security forces yesterday as they processed the scene where a 14-year-old boy was fatally shot in an alleged shoot-out on 100 Lane located off Red Hills Road, St Andrew.

Residents said Rasheem Wilson was killed in cold blood in his yard as he played a game on his phone. His grandmother Michelle Dawkins fell to her knees before stating that Rasheem's father Miguel Wilson met a similar demise.

"Mi a cry inside, mi heart a bleed. Him a just 14. Police kill him father years ago inna him sleep and now dem come kill him and a talk about shoot-out. A game him a play on him phone; it all blood up. Children have their dreams and is not everyone want to turn badman. Mi grandson go school and him say him did wah turn soldier," she wailed.

According to a report from the police's Corporate Communications Unit, Rasheem was fatally shot during a joint police military operation about 1:45 p.m. One 9mm pistol fitted with a magazine containing 14 9mm rounds were seized. Residents blocked Red Hills Road in protest, but this was quickly cleared by the lawmen. Dawkins said she believes that Rasheem was shot accidentally.

"Is a tenement yard so di police dem know it like dem live there. The way the passage way set, dem nah go sure who sit round there suh dem just fire a shot. Dem fire the first shot and naturally Raheem ago run because war a gwan and him don't know a wah. Dem see him run and just fire," she said.

She described Rasheem as a well mannered child. Showing a pair of black sneakers and khaki, she said he was expected to attend classes at the Pembroke Hall High School today. She said his mother had to be given medical attention after she got ill on the scene. Another woman said she entered the yard shortly after the youngster was shot, and is adamant that the only thing in his hand was his bloodied phone.

"He didn't have a gun. He was lying there and they told me to come out the yard but I look. Dem run mi out and den dem just drag out him body and throw him in the van and drive off," she said.

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) stated that all lawmen who discharged their weapons have provided initial accounts. Since the start of the year, INDECOM has responded to eight shootings, six of them fatal.