INDECOM expresses concern over 65% increase in fatal shootings in 2025 and notes 14 fatal shootings so far this year

The number of persons killed by the security forces since the start of 2026 has risen to 14.

Earlier today, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) expressed concern about 12 people being killed.

Since then INDECOM has notified of 2 more incidents and deaths.

Between January 1 and today, INDECOM teams responded to incidents in Manchester, Clarendon, St James, Westmoreland, Kingston, St Andrew and St Thomas.

Two of the incidents were reported as planned operations.

The Manchester, St. James and Westmoreland incidents were triple fatal shootings.

Some of the persons killed are teenagers.

Among the deceased are:
29-year-old Shamar Turner
4-year-old Romaine Bowman
16-year-old Kevaun Martinez
24-year-old Desmond Dunkley
44-year-old Corel Wint
37-year-old Delano Leslie
15-year-old Romaine Campbell
Christopher Campbell
23-year-old Byron Mcdonald
26-year-old Teshawn Porteous
19-year-old Rasheed Johnson

Those killed in Clarendon, St Andrew and St Thomas remain unidentified.

Prior to the reports of today’s incidents, Deputy Commissioner of INDECOM, Yanique Taylor Wellington expressed concern about the 65 percent increase in fatal shootings in 2025 compared to 2024.

Further reports are that 8 firearms were recovered by the police in 6 of the incidents.

INDECOM also noted that no body worn camera was reported as being activated by any of the police officers in any of the fatal shooting incidents.

It said one police officer reported that he was in possession of a body worn camera but it was not activated, as he did not have a clip to wear it.

All incident scenes were examined and the evidential material recovered, processed and packaged.

The hands of the deceased were swabbed for gunshot residue, and their bodies photographed and sealed, pending post mortem examination.

The concerned officers were served with notices to submit statements and or attend interviews.

INDECOM is encouraging citizen participation in the investigative process by providing information on the incidents.