INDECOM investigates fatal shooting in Bowers, Old Harbour

According to information reaching Old Harbour News the incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. when a police team entered a premises where Johnson was allegedly seen with a firearm. The officers reported that Johnson pointed the weapon at them, prompting them to open fire, resulting in his death. An illegal firearm was reportedly seized at the scene. 

However, INDECOM noted a critical omission in the officers’ account.

“No body-worn cameras were reported as being worn by any of the concerned officers,” the agency stated in a press release, raising questions about transparency in the incident. 

Further probe by Old Harbour News revealed very little about Johnson, except he was unemployed with a person of questionable character. 

The Bowers incident marks the third fatal police shooting recorded within the last 24 hours. Earlier this morning, two other men were killed in separate confrontations with law enforcement. 

In Grants Pen, St. Andrew, Jadean Gooden, alias ‘Six’, was fatally shot during an alleged confrontation with the police. In Westmoreland, authorities are still working to formally identify a man killed under similar circumstances. 

These latest incidents bring the total number of fatal police shootings since the start of 2024 to 133, with 22 occurring in May alone, according to INDECOM’s records. 

The absence of body-worn cameras in the Old Harbour shooting has renewed concerns about accountability and the need for stricter adherence to protocols in police operations. INDECOM has urged witnesses or individuals with additional information to come forward as its investigation continues. 

As INDECOM’s probe unfolds, the latest figures highlight an ongoing trend of deadly force used by security personnel, prompting calls for systemic reforms to ensure both public safety and law enforcement accountability.