Rushawn Patterson’s family has spoken out regarding his death, denying that he was killed in a shootout with the police. Patterson is the suspect in a 2022 murder case involving a popular Jamaican social media influencer named Aneka ‘Slickianna’ Townsend.
On Tuesday, it was reported that Patterson was fatally shot in a confrontation with the police in Hanover, but his family is accusing the police of murdering him.
Patterson’s father was distraught while speaking to reporters about the death of his son. He informed the media that the police prevented him from seeing his deceased son at the scene, according to TVJ News. While police reports say it was a shootout, the mourning father said he heard that police murdered Patterson in his sleep.
The father told the reporters that the police did not present a warrant when they arrived at the residence that Patterson shared with his mother. He claimed that the grill was unlocked, and they barged into the home and shot his son.
“No warrant at all…The police dem come and run up, when you look all the grill did open, and before the man even wake up dem shoot him and wrap him up and gone,” he told a TVJ reporter, adding that the police said no one was allowed on the scene.
Patterson’s father indicated that the police often killed individuals in alleged shootouts and people’s homes, but the matter is overlooked without justice being served. He stressed something needs to be done about it.
A resident recalled hearing the gunshots on Tuesday morning, telling the reporter that around six shots were fired. Afterwards, the resident witnessed the police leaving the community with Patterson’s body in the back of their vehicle.
According to TVJ News, another witness saw Patterson driving fast to his home in the early hours of Tuesday morning, and police service vehicles went in the direction of the house hours after Patterson arrived.
According to the report, Patterson was scheduled to appear in court on October 15 after his case was pushed back and his bail was extended because he was ill.