Rasbert Turner, Sunday Gleaner Writer

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

The Bureau of Special Investigation is now investigating the killing of a man by a police officer in the Knollis Area of St. Catherine on Friday night.

The dead man has been identified as Ralston Easy, a 32-year-old labourer of Knollis. His death triggered protests from residents.

The police reported that about 11:30 p.m., a policeman was driving home, when upon reaching a section of the road in Knollis, he came across two men, one of whom was holding a shotgun. The police report that the man with the gun, later identified as Easy, opened fire on the lawman, who returned the fire.

Easy ran and after a short while his body was found with gunshot wounds. He was taken to the Linstead Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The police's version of the events and that of several protesters who blocked the Knollis main road yesterday differs significantly. The residents claim that Easy was shot by the policeman in cold blood.

"Rallo a good boy and if him see unmarked car him must run, and that is why they shot him," remarked one of the protesters.

The dead man's sister, Veronica Easy, told The Sunday Gleaner that she spoke with her brother moments before he was killed. "Him call mi after nine o' clock and seh him a go buy food pon the road, and mi tell him seh him must be careful as the gunman dem deh pon the road a night-time."