Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force shot and killed three men on Monday in an alleged confrontation. The fatal encounter unfolded in the St Toolies area near the Manchester–Clarendon border.
Police, according to preliminary reports, were searching for suspects during the afternoon in what was described as an intelligence-led operation. Multiple officers went to a house connected to the wanted men around 12:20 p.m. However, a confrontation developed when they came upon the three men.
The shots were fired, and when the shooting subsided, the men were found with gunshot wounds. They were all later pronounced dead. Police later stated that they retrieved two firearms from the scene. Details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting remain limited.
After the shooting, a local news team released footage of two disgruntled residents at the scene. The video shared shows two women openly venting their anger toward the security forces.
One woman was seen rolling in dirt while shouting. She claimed the police were merciless and showed no concern for innocent people. She also alleged that firearms were planted to justify the killing of individuals during police actions. The police officers present did not respond to the accusations.
The fatal shooting comes just days after Jamaica ended 2025 with at least 311 people reported to have been killed in alleged confrontations with members of the security forces. This death toll is higher than the fatalities recorded in 2024.
The increase in police shootings led to heightened concern from citizens. At the start of 2026, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) announced plans to strengthen its resources and oversight following a noticeable uptick in police-related deaths in 2025.
Commissioner Hugh Faulkner highlighted ongoing worries about the growing number of fatal shootings, especially those occurring during planned law enforcement operations.
The St Toolies incident follows other deadly encounters reported at the start of the new year. On the first day of the year, police reported fatal shooting incidents in Granville, St James, and Bethel Town, Westmoreland. In Granville, three people were reported dead, including a four-year-old child. Another three people were reported killed in Bethel Town.