There are still unanswered questions as to what happened leading up to a man being shot dead by a relative who is a policeman, on Saturday morning, May 27 in St Mary.
Dead is 48-year-old John Anthony Davis, popularly known as ‘Sparrow’, a contractor of Church Street in Bailey’s Vale in the parish.
Information released by the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) on the incident suggests that the officer was defending himself from Davis, who was armed with a knife.
However, residents are upset and said that Davis, who they describe as a kind-hearted man, who got along with well with most members of the community, did not deserve to die that way.
Others have pointed to a long standing dispute between the two relatives over a house and land that led to things reaching to a boiling point over the weekend.
The information issued in a release by the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) hours after the incident on Saturday, stated that the Inspectorate of the Constabulary (IOC) was investigating the incident of “a policeman who shot and killed his relative.”
The release by CCU stated that “the police man, who is a licensed firearm holder, reportedly had a dispute with the deceased about 6:00 a.m. A physical confrontation reportedly ensued, during which Davis allegedly attacked the constable with a knife and was shot.”
The release further stated that “the policeman has since been placed on temporary leave” and he was scheduled “to meet with the Force Chaplain whilst the investigation progresses.”
The release added that “members of the Community Safety and Security Branch have also been dispatched to meet with members of the family.”
ONGOING DISPUTE
It is understood that other police officers have tried and failed at several attempts at mediation in the past between Davis and his nephew, who both resided at the same house.
The situation between the two relatives later escalated between Friday night, May 26 and Saturday morning, when Davis met his demise. It also understood that police officers were also at the house on Friday night trying to quell the feud between both men.
A source told The Times that he heard about four gunshots and this alerted members of the community that something had gone wrong. They later saw several police vehicles and were told that the man they knew as ‘Sparrow’ was no longer with them.
The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is also continuing with their investigations into the fatal shooting of Davis.
