Headlines:
| Police monitor Central Kingston after uproar |
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| Wednesday, 26 March 2008 | |
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Police
teams are maintaining a presence in sections of Central
Kingston, following a major disturbance on Wednesday morning. At least four streets critical to the Downtown network were blocked by residents, who were protesting against the fatal shooting of a man by the police. The residents said 23-year-old Sheldon Williams was a cocaine peddler but not a gunman and did not deserve to die. The police say the man was shot and killed in a shoot-out. In protest, residents blocked East Queen Street, East Street, Johns Lane and Laws Street. Soon after the roadblocks were mounted the police swooped down on the area and made sure the roads were re-opened. In their version of the story, the police claim they were patrolling Johns Lane shortly after two o'clock when a group of gunmen engaged them in a shoot out. They said that Mr. Williams, whom they believe was one of the gunmen, was killed during the gunfight. But the residents said the police murdered him. "[Mr. Williams] is a man that hustles. He sells drugs. Last night the police came down and saw him with the drugs and he threw it in his mouth and the police killed him, just like that," said a resident of Central Kingston. And while acknowledging her son was involved in the illegal practise of dope selling, his mother is insisting on justice. "I would like justice for my son because they killed him for no reason at all," said Mr. Williams' mother. The roadblock led to gridlock in the area inconveniencing scores of motorists. The roads are now clear, but the police say they will remain in the area to ensure order. |