Family members and pals of 16-year-old Demar Williams, who was reportedly shot useless by police in an alleged confrontation in Cresser Lane, Portmore, St Catherine, on Monday, say they haven’t any confidence that he’ll obtain justice.
“If him have gun, we woulda know as a result of a we him par with. We nuh take care of that, so how him fi have gun? Why them kill him and put a gun pon him and say a two particular person when them know seh a dem alone?” one buddy questioned. Demar, an Edwin Allen Excessive College scholar, was staying with a buddy within the municipality after a birthday celebration in St Ann.
“Him is so pleasant, when you discuss to him one time, you and him flip buddy,” stated one one who described Demar as a brother. “We inna the home and listen to when him bawl out and say ‘Mi a simply 16, mi a simply 16!'”
“We a really feel so much proper now as a result of him coulda deh a him yard a rustic and alright. Mi shoulda neva go for him or simply carry him again residence.”
He then took THE STAR staff to the spot the place Demar was shot, traces of blood nonetheless marking the bottom. The residents claimed that once they got here out after the explosions, they realised even their gentle had been disconnected.
“Them simply come and shoot, no questions requested. If me did inna the yard, me woulda useless too, as a result of if man come up inna masks and do not establish themself as police and simply say, ‘Do not transfer,’ mi in the past run. A stroll dem stroll come within the lane to so there was no police automobile,” stated the person. He recounted that he was on his manner again to the home when he heard gunshots.
“The primary set a shot dem is from rifle. The final set a shot a from a handgun, that point him [Demar] finished useless already. Mi know a them carry the handgun. You nuh hear no trade of photographs on the identical time” he reasoned.
Residents described Demar as an bold youth who had not too long ago began exploring life, exhibiting curiosity in women and travelling. They insisted he had by no means had any run-ins with the regulation. They stated no less than 5 individuals have been killed not too long ago in surrounding areas like Reid’s Pen and Gilbert, but there was little to no police presence addressing these incidents.
“We stay right here, and we not even come out and sit down pon the nook as a result of we concern what them can do to we. If them see we a drive a automotive, them cease we and ask what we do, and them do not give we an opportunity fi reply. Them simply say we a choppa when you look a sure manner,” one in all Demar’s pals expressed.
They spoke about how Demar’s father was actively concerned of their lives, all the time encouraging them to remain on the suitable path.
“A plan we plan fi go river inna the week once more. A greater me did carry him again residence.” Residents say they stay in fixed concern, feeling unsafe even in their very own houses.
“A cash and a greater life we strive focus pon, however when someone weh we a construct with drop out like this, a simply monster dem a flip we inna,” one man stated. The police, notably particular operations groups, had been closely criticised by residents, who declare they function with no regard for all times.
“Is a unique sort a person dem deh. Dem nuh haven’t any coronary heart. A goal dem in the past goal right here so now, so mi haffi a stay inna concern,” the person stated. “Mi really feel like issues can do higher. You see if mi dawg did a shotta, mi woulda seh ‘Properly, a so it go,’ however them kill a 16-year-old weh simply begin stay.”
The Impartial Fee of Investigations has reported that as of March 12, 64 individuals have been killed by members of the safety forces this 12 months.
