A police operation in Sligoville, St Catherine, ended in tragedy on Friday morning, October 16, after a Sligoville gun battle left a police corporal and three men dead, while other officers and a young girl were injured.
The deceased officer has been identified as Corporal Trevoy Shaw, who was attached to the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Special Operations unit.
The confrontation took place in the Five Miles area of Sligoville, where police personnel went in search of wanted men shortly after 5:00 a.m.
Gunfire Erupts During Police Operation
Information emerging from the incident indicates that the police team was clearing a building on a property when gunfire erupted.
The three men reportedly barricaded themselves inside the house, where other occupants were also present. Police said the team came under fire, triggering an exchange of gunshots.
The confrontation developed into a prolonged and dangerous situation, with additional police personnel called in to support the operation.
The men were subsequently killed during the gun battle, according to reports published Friday morning.
Other Officers and Child Injured
The incident also left other people injured.
One policeman suffered gunshot wounds to the head and was undergoing surgery, while another officer was reportedly injured but not by gunfire.
A young girl who was inside the house was also shot. Her injuries were described as serious but stable. In an updated reported, the 10-year-old girl has succumbed to her injuries.
The circumstances surrounding how the child was injured have not been fully established publicly.
Investigation Continues
The shooting has resulted in the death of a member of the police force during an operation targeting wanted men, alongside the deaths of the three men involved in the confrontation.
The identities of two of the deceased men are 51-year-old Errol Hussey and 35-year-old Lamond Sutherland.
A strong police-military presence remains in the area as investigations continued.
The incident raises further questions about the circumstances of the confrontation, including the injuries sustained by the child and the sequence of events inside the building.
Those details remain unclear as more information is expected to emerge.
