Granville residents in St James are furious after a 4-year-old child was shot to death, for which they blame the security forces. The child, identified by police as Romaine Bowman, died hours after being injured inside her home during an operation that unfolded just after midnight on Thursday.
According to preliminary information, a police confrontation occurred when they responded to a report about an illegal gun salute at about 12:05 a.m. Police say armed men began shooting at them, prompting them to return fire. Police shot and killed two armed men during the alleged shootout and reportedly recovered an AK-47 at the scene.
Additionally, four bystanders, including a child, were injured and taken to the hospital. Young Romaine, who was reportedly shot in the back, later succumbed to her injuries on Thursday morning. Her death has sparked widespread anger and grief in Granville, with residents accusing members of the security forces, mainly soldiers, of acting recklessly during the operation.
Residents quickly staged a protest in the streets, blocking sections of the roadway with debris as they demanded accountability. Several people could be heard shouting for justice while calling for the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) to intervene. INDECOM has since confirmed that it has launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a video circulating online, one visibly upset resident lashed out at members of the Jamaica Defence Force. The child’s mother, who looked stunned and overwhelmed, appeared to be near the female resident. The resident urged silence until investigators arrived, insisting that justice was needed. “We want justice,” the residents cried repeatedly.
The female resident questioned how a four-year-old could have been killed during the operation. She claimed that the shots were deliberately being fired inside the house, leading to the child getting shot. She accused one of the soldiers of being careless and unprofessional, suggesting that other methods could have been used, such as ensuring the innocent occupants of the house were outside first.
The resident also expressed frustration that, despite the child being injured, shots allegedly continued in the area. The resident said the mother alerted the lawmen that the child was injured, and they continued to shoot. She described the scene as heartbreaking, especially since she, too, is a mother, and added that poor people are mistreated.
The mother also recounted the incident, reiterating that the masked law enforcers ignored her cries. She claimed that they insisted the gunman was hiding under the bed, but she said only women and children were inside the house.
