Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
A STRONG detachment of police personnel is now maintaining a presence in the Lakes Pen community of St. Catherine, following disturbance after police shot and killed a man in the area on Thursday.
Reports are that 27-year-old Gossett Gooden was shot and killed about 4:30 p.m. after policemen went into the community where they allegedly saw him on a front-end loader where illegal sand mining was being conducted. The police alleged that, on their approach, shots were fired from where Mr. Gooden was. They took cover and returned the fire. In the aftermath, Gooden was found with gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced dead at the Spanish Town Hospital.
RESIDENTS BLOCKED THE ROAD
As news of his death spread throughout the community, residents blocked the road on Thursday evening. It was cleared by the police, but they remounted several road blocks through Friday and Saturday effectively locking off the community from vehicular traffic.
On Saturday night, the police was forced to call for reinforcement as residents started to spread the blockage into the nearby Bernard Lodge area.
According to the residents, Mr. Gooden was known to the policeman who shot him and it was wrong for the police to have said there was a shoot-out as no such thing had happened.
The residents further refuted police claims that Gooden was a member of the Clansman gang. They said he was not a member of any gang, and was a well-loved member of the community.
"We don't know him as any gang member, and moreover, there was no shoot-out," one resident said. "On Thursday, the police dem come inna di area, started to fire shot and shoot the youth."
According to Dave Hyman, assistant superintendent in charge of operations, the police will be maintaining a presence in the area as, while investigations are under way, law and order must return. He said there was an incident that the police were currently investigating and that the process must be allowed to continue. He said the police would not be tolerating any illegal activities such as what had been taking place since Thursday.
The Bureau of Special Investigation has since commenced an investigation into the killing of Mr. Gooden.
