parked nearby, for nearly three hours.
The 30th birthday of constableAdualy Smith turned from one of fun into a nightmare after he shot and killed his friend and colleague constable Kemo Walsh, in the wee hours of Sunday.Within minutes of the explosion of a bullet fired into the stomach of Kemo Walsh who would be 21 in July, Smith shot himself in the head.
Both were pronounced dead at the same hospital, though Walsh died in surgery about 7 a.m.
The shooting and suicide have left questions about the police’s response (See associated story p).
INDECOM is investigating.
Investigations by The Times shows that Smith was intoxicated and was drinking even before he got to the Grass Hoppa night club, at White River near Ocho Rios where a party was being held for a friend of the two cops. Smith’s party was to follow later that day to celebrate his 30th birthday.Some reports say the two men were “running jokes” against each other and later it got serious when Smith pulled his firearm and shot Walsh in his stomach, about 3:45. Other reports said the two started quarrelling about a woman who was on the scene, when Walsh was shot.Some reports say Smith called for backup although others say it was patrons who called and officers from Ocho Rios station rushed to the scene.Walsh, bleeding, was put in the second cab of the police Mitsubishi pick up.As the vehicle left the scene Smith reportedly jumped into the open back. The vehicle sped away, toward St Ann’s Bay hospital.Some police sources say a loud explosion was heard in the vehicle and when the police driver stopped the vehicle to investigate, a bloodied Smith was seen stretched out in the pick-up’s back in blood that was even draining from the vehicle.
WEIGHT OF BILLS
Smith was pronounced dead on arrival while Walsh died in the operating theater close to 7 a.m.Blood stains were seen outside the A &E at the St Ann’s Bay Hospital that police marked off as a crime scene, with the Scene of Crime Unit
Both men were close friends. Smith from Manchester worked for some time at the Police headquarters in St Ann’s Bay, handling payroll issues. He was described as smart but was under pressure recently, carrying the weight of medical bills for a close relative, diagnosed with cancer. He had recently been assigned to the Operations Support Team in Ocho Rios.Walsh, leader of a Police Youth Club, was recently reassigned to the Proactive Investigative Unit (PIU), St Ann’s Bay. He was said to be bright and with a good future in the Force.
Counselling has long started for family members of the two men and for their closest colleagues.
