A sound selector was shot and killed by police during an alleged confrontation in St Elizabeth on Tuesday. The fatal shooting occurred in Hodges in the vicinity of Black River. The selector, 44-year-old Leighton ‘Bigga Don’ Nembhard, reportedly challenged the police mid-afternoon.
Official reports say Nembhard, who is from the community of Peacock Heights in Black River, was allegedly involved in a police standoff that required the intervention of multiple officers. Police reportedly had to call for backup from the St Elizabeth division. When the alleged shootout ended, Nembhard was found with gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead. Police reportedly recovered a Browning 9-millimetre pistol with a magazine containing two 9-millimetre rounds at the scene.
Although it has only been 6 days into the new year, there have been 14 people killed by security forces during what police describe as confrontations. In the last year, 311 people died in alleged police confrontations, marking a significant rise in fatal police shootings. Across those incidents, 67 police officers were investigated by INDECOME to determine if excessive force was used, leading to 49 of them being charged with murder.
Several of the victims who were killed during police operations this year have been identified. On January 1 alone, four people lost their lives: 29-year-old Shamar Turner in Kingston; 44-year-old Corel Wint, also in Kingston; 4-year-old Romaine Bowman and 16-year-old Kevaun Martinez in Granville, St James; and 24-year-old Desmond Dunkley in Granville. Other fatalities include 15-year-old Romaine Campbell and 37-year-old Delano Leslie in Bethel Town, Westmoreland, along with Christopher Campbell, also in Bethel Town.
The wave of violence continued into January 5, when three men—23-year-old Byron McDonald, 26-year-old Teshawn Porteous, and 19-year-old Rasheed Johnson—were killed in St Toolies, Manchester. Another fatal shooting in Clarendon Park has left the victim unidentified, while information regarding two other victims recorded on Tuesday was not available at press time.
INDECOM has appealed to the public to come forward with any information regarding these cases. Witnesses can provide photos, videos, or relevant details via INDECOM’s WhatsApp number, (876) 553-0000, or by visiting regional offices. They can also call 876-968-1932 or 876-968-8875 to assist ongoing investigations.