A distraught family is calling out for justice, claiming that a young man named Shamar Riley was killed unlawfully by officers with the Jamaica Constabulary Force. A local news outlet reported that authorities said Riley was shot in an alleged police shootout.
Moments before he was fatally shot, a security camera captured police pursuing the 20-year-old. This video has been circulating on social media, sparking many speculations and questions. The footage was released by the family on Tuesday to support their argument that Riley was innocent and wrongfully killed.
The alleged police confrontation occurred on April 26, when Riley attempted to escape the police in Cockburn Gardens, St Andrew. In the video, he can be seen frantically running towards a house and falling to the ground just outside the gate. When Riley opens the gate, he dashes into the yard, which is believed to be his residence. Shortly after, police officers appear as if they have been closely pursuing Riley with their weapons and flashlights.
They continue to pursue through the gate, heading in the same direction as he did, and disappear from the camera’s frame. According to a report, the family claimed another footage captured when law enforcers entered the house.
However, that recording was filmed on someone’s phone, and the phone was confiscated by officers and has not been returned, according to the family. One of Riley’s relatives claimed Riley was already wounded by a gunshot as he attempted to flee from the officers.
The video has triggered a flurry of speculation. Some viewers on social media believe Riley appeared to be holding an object that resembled a firearm while running toward the house. This speculation also led one commenter to argue that the footage released by the family actually supports the police’s version of events.
Meanwhile, arguments questioned his innocence, like a comment that asked why he chose to flee if he had done nothing wrong. However, family members maintain that Riley was unarmed and innocent.
