Angry St James Road area residents injured several policemen and damaged a number of police vehicles following the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Jermaine Mackey on Friday night.
Mr Mackey’s relatives are now demanding justice and an explanation as to why police shot and killed him, after, reportedly, constantly harassing him.
Holding two empty bullet cartridges in her hand, one of which was a spent shotgun shell, Ms Ingrid Forbes, Jermaine’s aunt, queried:
“If he had both hands up in the air why shoot him, four or five times? Why not fire off a warning shot? Why was he shot in the head, the back and the chest?”
According to eyewitnesses, Jermaine Mackey’s life came to an end after police officers in a mobile patrol unit in the St James Road area, confronted Mr Mackey and ended up fatally shooting him.
The victim’s neighbours, wishing not to be named, said Mr Mackey was standing near the Corner Pocket Sporting Lounge and bar when he was approached by police officers.
Eyewitnesses told The Guardian that the situation escalated after a policeman told them to “get inside or end up like Jermaine.”
“Boy ain’ no justice for us you know, they so wrong,” a friend of Jermaine told The Guardian.
Area residents, enraged by the shooting of Mr Mackey, damaged several police vehicles and injured one police officer.
Ms Forbes described her nephew as a quiet person, whom she affectionately called “JAM,” which stood for his full name, Jermaine Alexander Mackey.
She said she was concerned for her sister, Jermaine’s 10-year-old daughter, Janice Mackey, and his mother who was off the island but had already been informed of her son’s death.
Ms Forbes said she received the news of her nephew’s death from her niece.
An angry Ms Forbes said she would also like to know why police failed to properly inform the family, before telling the media and giving the wrong name of Jermaine Cooper.
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A male relative wishing not to be identified said he felt police officers failed to carry out proper arrest procedures.
“If a man is in your presence, you must caution him by telling him he is under arrest, cuff him and then proceed to search his person for whatever illegal substance or weapon you suspected him of having in his possession,” he said.
Ms Forbes said if she could talk to her nephew she would tell him, “Thank God the police harassment is over.”
She said her nephew was constantly harassed by officers.
According to the official version given by Police Press Liaison Officer, Superintendent Hulan Hanna, the incident occurred at 10:15 p.m. Friday in the area of St James Road, off Kemp Road.
“Police officers were on mobile patrol in the area when they encountered Jermaine Mackey, 27,” Mr Hanna said.
He said this resulted in Mr Mackey being fatally shot, resulting in “a heated stand-off” between police and several residents of the area.
Mr Hanna said that as a result, six police cars, including four mobile patrol units, a Scenes of Crime van, and a fire engine were damaged.
He said police officers received minor injuries with one officer being struck in the face with a flying object.
He said that after several hours police restored order after additional manpower arrived on the scene.
Emotions ran high on Sunday as enraged residents of St James Road expressed disgust over the manner in which Gibson met his demise.
Residents got their opportunity to speak with Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson as he conducted a walk-a-bout in the area on Sunday.
Commissioner Farquharson was joined by area pastors Rev E Randy Frasier of the Pilgrim Baptist Church, Dr Ivan Butler of Kemp Road Union Baptist Church and Fr James Palacious of St Matthew’s Anglican Church.
Commissioner Farquharson said the purpose of the walk-a-bout was to begin a healing process and to unearth the truth.
Before departing, police and church officials joined in prayer for the healing of the community, which was enraged and grief-stricken over the death of the resident.
As the contingent of media, law enforcement, and clergy approached, curious neighbours watched apprehensively.
Commissioner Farquharson stopped and spoke with a female resident who told him of the “rude conduct” of armed police officers on the night of the shooting.
“They curse me and my children and came pointing their guns at everybody – man, woman and child,” said the resident, who declined to be identified.
Another female resident became irate and raised furious objection as a ZNS cameraman and other police officers entered her yard.
“No, no, I don’t want you all in my yard! Get out, get out of my yard now!” she shouted, shaking her head angrily.
Her daughter, who also declined to be identified, told of how police officers abused house guests who were visiting from Freeport.
“I mean they shoot the tear gas canister through the window, then they kick in the door and point the gun at the children,” she said.
Residents told of abusive policemen who, making threats, forced them all to lay down on the ground with their hands on their heads.
The residents reported that the police were both verbally and physically abusive, even in the treatment of female residents.
Twenty-five-year-old Peruse Murphy, brother of the deceased, told police and clergymembers that God does not slumber nor sleep and that He will bring justice to the police officers who killed his brother.
He said he was in Exuma when he learned of his brother’s death.
“See, I want to know why they kill my brother. What was the reason? I want the trigger man or men to answer me!” he shouted angrily.
Jermaine’s 10-year-old daughter, Janice and her mother Shereece were both in tears as Pastor Frasier prayed with them just 20 feet away from the spot where the 27-year-old was shot and killed.
After praying, Pastor Frasier offered counseling services to Shereece and her daughter whenever they wanted.
“Who is going to talk to her like her father did? They had a close relationship, he loved his daughter, and they killed him,” she said, tears rolling down her face.
“We are here for you, Shereece,” Pastor Frasier told her as she wiped tears from her daughter’s eyes, who had witnessed her father’s death.
Commissioner Farquharson toured the entire area, shaking hands with both young and elderly persons he encountered.
Speaking at the steps of Pilgrim Baptist Church, he appealed to residents who had any information concerning the unfortunate incident to come forward.
He thanked the members of the clergy for participating in the walk-a-bout, and assisting in the healing process.
“What I wish to do at this point, is to appeal to anyone who has real information. There are people talking about what they heard; what we want is someone with real evidence, because we really want to unearth the truth,” said Commissioner Farquharson.
By Sean Inniss, The Nassau Guardian
