Teen killed in alleged confrontation with cops

Relatives and friends of 16-year-old Demar Williams, who was reportedly shot dead by police in an alleged confrontation in Cresser Lane, Portmore, St Catherine, on Monday, say they have no confidence that he will receive justice.

"If him have gun, we woulda know because a we him par with. We nuh deal with that, so how him fi have gun? Why them kill him and put a gun pon him and say a two person when them know seh a dem alone?" one friend questioned. Demar, an Edwin Allen High School student, was staying with a friend in the municipality after a birthday celebration in St Ann.

"Him is so friendly, if you talk to him one time, you and him turn friend," said one person who described Demar as a brother. "We inna the house and hear when him bawl out and say 'Mi a just 16, mi a just 16!'"

"We a feel a lot right now because him coulda deh a him yard a country and alright. Mi shoulda neva go for him or just carry him back home."

He then took THE STAR team to the spot where Demar was shot, traces of blood still marking the ground. The residents claimed that when they came out after the explosions, they realised even their light had been disconnected.

"Them just come and shoot, no questions asked. If me did inna the yard, me woulda dead too, because if man come up inna mask and don't identify themself as police and just say, 'Don't move,' mi ago run. A walk dem walk come in the lane to so there was no police vehicle," said the man. He recounted that he was on his way back to the house when he heard gunshots.

"The first set a shot dem is from rifle. The last set a shot a from a handgun, that time him [Demar] done dead already. Mi know a them carry the handgun. You nuh hear no exchange of shots at the same time" he reasoned.

Residents described Demar as an ambitious youth who had recently started exploring life, showing interest in girls and travelling. They insisted he had never had any run-ins with the law. They said at least five persons have been killed recently in surrounding areas like Reid's Pen and Gilbert, yet there has been little to no police presence addressing these incidents.

"We live here, and we not even come out and sit down pon the corner because we fear what them can do to we. If them see we a drive a car, them stop we and ask what we do, and them don't give we a chance fi respond. Them just say we a choppa once you look a certain way," one of Demar's friends expressed.

They spoke about how Demar's father was actively involved in their lives, always encouraging them to stay on the right path.

"A plan we plan fi go river inna the week again. A better me did carry him back home." Residents say they live in constant fear, feeling unsafe even in their own homes.

"A money and a better life we try focus pon, but when somebody weh we a build with drop out like this, a just monster dem a turn we inna," one man said. The police, particularly special operations teams, were heavily criticised by residents, who claim they operate with no regard for life.

"Is a different kind a man dem deh. Dem nuh have no heart. A target dem ago target here so now, so mi haffi a live inna fear," the man said. "Mi feel like things can do better. You see if mi dawg did a shotta, mi woulda seh 'Well, a so it go,' but them kill a 16-year-old weh just start live."

The Independent Commission of Investigations has reported that as of March 12, 64 persons have been killed by members of the security forces this year.