• RESIDENTS DISPUTE POLICE ACCOUNT OF BEING ATTACKED BY PATRON

• CURFEW IMPOSED IN AREA

ANNOTTO BAY, St Mary; Feb. 22, 2025

People who were attending a candlelight party for late artiste ‘Determine’ near Annotto Bay, St Mary, are disputing a police fatal shooting report.

They say the man killed Friday evening, Feb. 21, 2025, did not attack police and did not have a gun as the law officers say.

(Kevin Cunningham)

Dead is Kevin Cunningham, otherwise called “Chemical,” a 28-year-old labourer from Crab Hall, Annotto Bay. He was one of several patrons at a candlelight ceremony for “Kette Drum” artiste Determine who died in the USA on February 13, 2025.

CURFEW

Meantime, on Saturday evening police announced a curfew had taken effect in parts of Iterboreale, just outside Annotto Bay. The 48-hour curfew took effect at 6 p.m. Saturday, February 22, and will end at 6 p.m. Monday. A police release said the curfew was imposed “in response to escalating gang conflicts in the area which has resulted in multiple violent incidents.”

Police reports are that at about 9:20 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21, officers from the St. Mary Operational Support Team “came under attack while shutting down an unauthorized party in Iteboreale, Annotto Bay” in the parish.

The police report said that “during the incident, a patron brandished a firearm at the police. In response, an officer discharged his service weapon, injuring the suspect.”

Cunningham was transported to the Annotto Bay Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

Two officers were also reportedly injured during the incident.

Police said a Beretta .40 caliber pistol with a partially erased serial number and a magazine containing five live rounds was recovered from the suspect. The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and the Port Maria Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB) are conducting further investigations.

A man who said he was at the candlelight event told the North Coast Times that it was a cold-blooded killing.