INDECOM probing six police killings in two days

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is now probing the police killing of six men since yesterday.

INDECOM says members of the investigative team are still completing enquiries into this morning's incident in Kingston, in which four men were killed in the vicinity of King and Charles streets.

The men have not yet been officially identified. 

The police say they were attacked by gunmen in the area and returned the fire. They say five guns were recovered.

INDECOM says it was also informed that a police officer from another responding team was injured by another group of men and is being treated.

Meanwhile, INDECOM says its investigative team is also still completing enquiries into the shooting of 29-year-old Pete Bowen during a police operation in Sterling district in Grange Hill, Westmoreland, this morning.

A firearm was reported as recovered from the scene.

INDECOM is also probing yesterday's fatal shooting by the police of 19-year-old Kevaughn Bhalai in the community of Waterford in St Catherine. The police reported that upon entering a house, based on information received, a man who was seen in a room, pointed a firearm in their direction and in return they fired at the man.

INDECOM says it was not informed of a body-worn camera being issued, assigned or used, in any of the incidents.

As part of the response requirements, INDECOM says its forensic personnel examine, process and package the evidential material recovered from the incident scenes. The hands of the deceased men are swabbed for DNA testing and their bodies photographed and sealed, pending post mortem examination.

It says all officers who were involved in the three incidents, will be required to provide a statement in relation to their incident and where advised, attend INDECOM to be interviewed in relation to their involvement in the fatal shootings.

Year to date, fifty persons have been shot and killed by the Security Forces, of which six occurred in May.

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