Bloody Easter! Teens among 11 killed in wave of police shootings, INDECOM alarmed

An alarming wave of police shootings over the Easter weekend has left 11 men dead, including teenagers, reigniting calls from the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) to make it mandatory for cops to use body-worn cameras.

Between April 3 and April 6, investigators were called to probe five separate fatal incidents across the island, including three deadly encounters where three men were killed in each incident.

Among the dead are 17-year-old Cory Somers and 19-year-old Justin Somers, both killed during a police operation in March Pen, Spanish Town. Another 19-year-old, Tywain Campbell, was also among those fatally shot in a separate incident in Brown's Hall, St Catherine.

The others include:

27 year old, Devonie Chase (Fatal shooting in Sheffield, Westmoreland on April 3)

28 year old, Reagan McIntosh (Fatal shooting in Sheffield, Westmoreland on April 3)

Unidentified male (Fatal shooting in Sheffield, Westmoreland on April 3)

22 year old, Shackille Bennett (Planned operation in Brown's Hall, St. Catherine on April 4)

52 year old, Geoffe Campbell (Planned operation in Brown's Hall, St. Catherine on April 4)

21 year old, Romario Sibblies (Planned operation in Denham Town, Kingston 13 on April 4)

Unidentified male with the alias as "Coolie" (Fatal shooting in March Pen, Spanish Town, St Catherine on April 5)

Unidentified male (Fatal shooting in African Gardens, August Town, Kingston on April 6)

INDECOM says the killings form part of a troubling trend, noting that this is already the ninth triple fatal shooting being investigated since the start of the year.

The incidents spanned several communities, including Sheffield in Westmoreland, Brown's Hall and March Pen in St Catherine, Denham Town in Kingston, and August Town. Three of the deceased remain unidentified.

The commission revealed that eight firearms were reportedly seized by police across the five scenes. However, a major concern has been raised, none of the officers involved were wearing body cameras during any of the deadly encounters.

Deputy Commissioner Yanique Taylor-Wellington described the situation as "a matter of grave and escalating concern," pointing to what she called an "alarming trajectory" in the use of lethal force.

She stressed that body-worn cameras must become standard, especially during planned operations and high-risk engagements, arguing that modern policing cannot rely on bystanders or CCTV footage to piece together deadly incidents.

"These measures serve to protect both members of the public and law enforcement officers alike," she said.

The latest figures push the number of people fatally shot by security forces in April to 13, with a total of 89 killings recorded so far this year, slightly higher than the 87 recorded for the same period in 2025.

INDECOM says all scenes have been processed, with forensic evidence collected and the bodies prepared for post-mortem examinations as investigations continue.

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