Fatal police shooting in McCooks Pen casts shadow over election day

A grim shadow overtook election day activities in McCooks Pen, St Catherine, today amid the death of a man during an alleged police shoot-out, which occurred shortly after he had cast his ballot.

Dead is 32-year-old McCooks Pen resident Fabian Brown.

The police report that about 3:30 p.m., while officers were patrolling the community -- where several polling stations were in operation -- they came under heavy gunfire from armed men, triggering a running gun battle.

During the exchange, one man was shot.

He was later pronounced dead at hospital.

According to the police, a firearm was recovered at the scene.

However, residents of McCooks Pen are disputing the police's version of events, insisting that Brown was not involved in any shoot-out.

Instead, they claim he had just returned home from work, cast his ballot at a nearby polling station, and was preparing to celebrate the close of polls with neighbours under a tree where cooking was taking place.

Community members allege that heavily armed police personnel suddenly stormed the area and began firing indiscriminately.

They say Brown, along with several others, attempted to run for cover.

While fleeing, Brown was reportedly shot in the leg and collapsed.

Eyewitnesses further allege that a police officer then caught up with him and fired several additional rounds into his body.

Residents described Brown as a hardworking man and strongly rejected the police's claim that a weapon was recovered from him.

The shooting has left the community tense, even as electoral activities continued in the wider Spanish Town area throughout the day.

The Independent Commission of Investigations is probing the killing of Brown.

- Ruddy Mathison

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