It has been less than a week since the new year began, and Jamaica has already seen an alarming number of fatal shootings involving members of the security forces. On January 6, 2026, Jamaica recorded 12 deaths connected to alleged confrontations with lawmen. The figure sparked concern among locals, civil groups, and the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM). The latter addressed the death toll, describing it as “troubling”.
INDECOME noted that the number of people killed by security forces during this short period represents a sharp increase compared to the same timeframe in 2025. Last year, three people were killed during the opening days of January, meaning the latest figure reflects a 300 per cent rise.
Deputy Commissioner Yanique Taylor-Wellington said the commission is deeply concerned about the emerging pattern but stressed that investigations will be carried out without bias. She ensured that if any member of the security force breaks the law, they will be identified and dealt with accordingly.
The developments follow a year of significant increases in fatal shootings by the Jamaica Constabulary Force. In 2025, lawmen killed about 311 people in what were described as confrontations. In these incidents, police mostly claimed they were attacked or challenged by others, prompting them to take lethal action. As a result, the year ended with a 65 per cent increase (122 more fatalities) over the previous year, according to Taylor-Wellington.
Among the fatal shootings this year was a troubling incident in St Toolies, Manchester, where a 4-year-old child was shot and killed. Two male suspects were also killed, while an elderly woman was injured. Residents called on the assistance of INDECOM, which has confirmed that it is reviewing the incident, as well as another fatal incident in Clarendon.
On January 1 alone, 8 people were killed in 4 separate incidents across St James, Westmoreland, and Kingston. Among the deceased were three children. Police reported that they seized a total of 8 firearms during these deadly encounters. However, the officers were not deployed with body-worn cameras.
Reports confirmed that the scenes were thoroughly investigated, and officials examined the bodies and processed the evidence. The findings should reveal whether the suspects had opened fire at the police, and a pending post-mortem examination will shed more light on their passing. Meanwhile, the lawmen dispatched on these operations have all been interviewed and given statements.