There has been a new twist in the fatal shooting of a St Ann-based cop. Police have re-taken into custody the man who shot him.
Constable Shane Francis, who was assigned to the Divisional Intelligence Unit (DIU) in St. Ann’s Bay, St Ann, was shot dead at a party at White River, near Ocho Rios, Sunday night April 18.
Sources told The Times that the licenced firearm holder was picked up at his home Wednesday, April 27 after an autopsy showed the cop, constable Shane Francis had been shot in the back.
Informed sources told the North Coast Times that the Major Investigative Task Force based in Kingston has taken over the investigations, partly to remove questions about prejudice that were being raised regarding local police investigations.
The firearm holder was taken to Port Maria Police station for processing and then to Islington police station where he was being held up to the weekend. He was to be questioned Monday, May 2, in the presence of a high profile Kingston attorney.
Reports are that at a birthday the party at White River the constable made comments to a man he had known for sometime, stating that the man had been granted a gun licence and carried a gun and was now acting in a boastful manner. The two men had been friends but had fallen out sometime ago. A few minutes after the comments were made, an argument developed between the two and both drew guns, with the civilian faster on the draw with his Glock pistol. Initial reports said Francis had been shot in the chest and hip.
The licenced firearm holder who is a salesman with a major Kingston firm and the son of an ex-cop went to the Prospect police station and made a statement. He was released two days later. Police said at the time a file was to be submitted to the DPP for a ruling.
The arrest was said to be based on an autopsy that raised questions about the shooting.
His arrest has led to many questions being asked about the nature of the initial police investigations.
Some of the questions being asked are:
Were there witness statements to the shooting
Did Francis have his Force issued gun or a private firearm. And if the former, was he on duty?
Who handled the interrogation of the firearm holder and who ordered his release?
