- Cop was said to often pull gun at parties
The shooting death of constable Shane Francis has been a topic that has sparked several discussions across the North Coast, especially in St. Ann and St. Mary. Among these discussions are oft repeated allegations that the slain cop had a history of pulling his gun at parties.
News has also emerged that Francis, 30, who was killed at a party in White River, St. Ann on Sunday, April 18, was before the St Ann’s Bay Coroners’ Court for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of a colleague, Constable Sheldon Williams, in Ocho Rios in the parish in 2010.
The Coroner’s Court conducts inquests into sudden or suspicious deaths.
It is alleged that in that Williams had earlier been reprimanded by one of his colleagues during a boat excursion after he discharged his weapon in a gun salute.
Police reports indicated at the time that while he was being processed, Sheldon Williams, alias ‘Sylvan’ — grabbed his firearm and fled the police station. A police team reportedly gave chase before Williams was killed during an exchange of gunfire.
Francis was said to be one of the shooters involved.
And nearly a year later, according to police investigators, Francis was implicated in the shooting of a male patron at a dance in Pagee, St Mary. A probe was ongoing into this incident.
It is not clear if Francis was on vacation leave from 2010 following the first of the two shooting incidents, according to media reports.
Despite these two known incidents of violence, there have been other reports by individuals that the cop was “trigger happy.” This meant, he often pulled his firearm at several parties. However, those incidents have not been confirmed by the police high command.
Francis died after being shot, allegedly by a licensed firearm holder during an altercation, while at a party at White River, just outside Ocho Rios in St. Ann at around 11:30 p.m. Saturday night.
He was stationed at St Ann’s Bay, where he worked with the Divisional Intelligence Unit (DIU) and had given 10 years service to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
On Tuesday, a man that is alleged to have been the best friend of the slain constable stabbed a fireman over what is said is to be a disagreement about the slain cop and his character.
