Marie Henry, Gleaner Writer

Three weeks after Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin effected changes to reduce the use of deadly force in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), another controversial police killing sparked a mass protest yesterday and left an inner-city community in mourning.

Irate residents claimed 23-year-old Sheldon Williams, a resident of Tel-Aviv in Central Kingston, was killed in cold blood by the police. This latest incident occurred less than a month after an 11-month-old boy was killed by a policeman in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Following the Spanish Town incident the Police High Command released a revised JCF Use of Force Policy. Though not in direct reaction to the incident, a decision was also taken to remove the M-16 rifle from the hands of some frontline crime fighters.

Several roadblocks

Reacting to yesterday's shooting, scores of residents took to the street and mounted several roadblocks with burning debris on some of the major thoroughfares in downtown Kingston. The roadblocks spanned from Duke Street to the west and Maiden Lane to the east. Sections of Laws, East Queen, Wildman and East streets were also blocked up to mid-morning yesterday.

While some uniformed policemen were seen manning the roadblocks and directing traffic, motorists had to seek alternative routes. In some cases, commuters had to walk to Parade in downtown Kingston to get transportation.

A Constabulary Communications Network report said about 1:45 a.m., Williams was with a group of men in John's Lane, who opened fire on a police party. The lawmen returned the fire and Williams was subsequently found suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other men sped away from the scene.

The residents have dismissed the police story as a lie. Persons claiming to be eye-witnesses said Williams saw the police patrol and ran. He was chased and shot. They said he ran because, at the time, he had a bag containing crack/cocaine.

A two-litre bottle of water, a pair of slippers and a bloodstained corner are reminders of the death of Williams.

When The Gleaner news team visited the community yesterday, Member of Parliament Ronald Thwaites was kept busy speaking with his constituents. He said such incidents were very damaging and were the exact opposite of what he hoped for in his constituency, as they affect the relationship between the residents and the police.

In the meantime, the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) has commenced investigations into the fatal shooting. The BSI are now compiling a preliminary report which should be on the police commissioner's desk later today.

The Bureau of Special Investigations is urging eyewitnesses to come forward or call 922-7277.