Police have confirmed that one of the men in Wednesday’s alleged police confrontation was Salime Fitzgerald, who allegedly killed a police officer in December 2024. Fitzgerald goes by the alias “Smeagle” and resides on New Lincoln Road, Kingston 5. It is believed that Fitzgerald was the one whom the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Division had reportedly been trying to capture.
According to the St Catherine South police, the other deceased men have been identified as 21-year-old Davian McLean of Cooreville Gardens, Kingston 20, and 20-year-old Paul Donaldson of Seaview Avenue, Kingston 13. The three men were fatally shot along Mandela Highway during what investigators describe as an armed clash with lawmen.
A new report indicates that officers were actively pursuing Fitzgerald when they intercepted a black Honda Fit in which he was travelling on Wednesday. Earlier reports suggest that the vehicle first came up on the police radar for a string of robberies involving three men.
It is unclear if Fitzgerald was one of the robbers who was filmed in at least one of the robberies. Police have so far only confirmed that he is wanted in connection with the murder of Corporal Christopher Smith at a Texaco gas station in St Andrew on December 6, 2024. Police say the search for him intensified in recent months, which led to Wednesday’s operation.
Reports from the police outline that the black Honda Fit travelling toward Spanish Town was spotted shortly before midday. Members of the specialised unit attempted to intercept the vehicle, and the occupants allegedly responded by opening fire. Officers returned fire, and the exchange ended with all three men suffering gunshot wounds.
The injured men were later pronounced dead at the Spanish Town Hospital. No members of the police team were reported injured during the incident. Following the confrontation, police say they recovered two firearms, a Taurus pistol and a Beretta pistol, both fitted with magazines containing nine rounds. Both weapons were reportedly taken from the scene as part of the ongoing investigation.