Man shot dead after allegedly biting cop in tussle

A struggle between police and a gunman in Portmore ended with one man dead early yesterday morning after the man allegedly bit the cop in a desperate attempt to disarm him.

The unidentified man was shot and killed during the violent confrontation in Southboro, St Catherine.

Reports are that about 1:20 a.m., a police team on patrol acted on information about armed men travelling in a Toyota Voxy motorcar in the area.

The vehicle was intercepted and signalled to stop, and the driver complied. However, one occupant reportedly exited with a firearm, opened fire at the police, and fled on foot, while the driver sped away.

Police gave chase but lost sight of the fleeing suspect.

Further searches led lawmen to a house along Gilden Way, where they received information that a man was hiding inside. Officers were granted entry and the suspect was apprehended.

It is alleged that during the arrest, the man had a firearm in his waistband and attacked one of the officers, biting his finger while trying to wrest away the cop's weapon.

During the tussle, the man reportedly held onto the officer with his teeth and shoved him before managing to pull the firearm.

He was subsequently shot by the police.

The man was later found clutching a nine millimetre Browning pistol fitted with a magazine containing four rounds of ammunition.

He was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has since launched a probe into the incident.

- Rasbert Turner

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