Teen fatally shot by cops

A 17-year-old who harboured thoughts of joining the Jamaica Defence Force was killed yesterday morning during an alleged confrontation with police.

He has been identified as Devon Hall, a student of Colbourne College. According to reports, the incident occurred around 4 a.m in Cooreville Gardens on Washington Boulevard, St Andrew. Devon had just accompanied his girlfriend home and was returning when he and several neighbours were approached by police officers. Residents claim that Devon and the others were handcuffed and placed inside a police vehicle. Residents, including two alleged eyewitnesses, said that Devon was shot while handcuffed, refuting claims that there was a shootout.

"How could he have shot at the police if he is handcuffed? And how can he shoot at a police and him get shot sideway? How can he run and not be shot in the head back?" one resident asked. Residents also allege that cops drove an injured Devon to various communities instead of taking him to hospital. Devon's father, Steve Hall, was devastated.

"The teacher called me and asked what happened to him because they don't see him in school this morning, and I couldn't even find the words to explain to the teacher," Hall said, his voice breaking with emotion. Hall, who works nights, was devastated when he learned of his son's death.

"So I left them in the house, but I heard he followed his girlfriend home and them shoot him," he lamented. He said Devon had promised to do well in his studies and make a better life for himself, after his mother's death caused him to lose focus.

"Wah this? Wah this? Mi can't manage this. Why them have to kill the little youth? Him young. Him nuh live no life yet and them kill him just so?" Hall wailed. He described Devon as a loving son who always checked in on him.

"Every morning when mi came home from work him would rub mi head or tap mi pon mi shoulder and ask, 'Daddy you good?'" The grief-stricken father, joined by outraged residents, is calling for justice.

"Mi need help, mi need fi get justice, from anybody that can help me. I don't know where to turn and him life can't come back," Hall said.

Hugh Faulkner, commissioner of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), confirmed that an investigation is under way.

"Our investigators processed the primary scene on the Duhaney Park side off the Boulevard and a secondary scene on the Cooreville side," Faulkner stated. Faulkner said the firearms of the officers have been seized, processed, and boxed for submission to the lab. A firearm allegedly retrieved by the security forces was also taken in and similarly boxed. INDECOM is urging any witnesses to come forward.