A witness to events surrounding the shooting of 20-year-old Deron Bethel claimed last night that police tried to kill him by opening fire on his car.
Pointing to a bullet hole in the passenger door of his Honda Accord, Jason Cooper said he is now in fear of his life.
The 29-year-old Pinewood resident has lodged a formal complaint with police after two men in a brown Impala allegedly fired at him outside his home yesterday morning.
He has told police chiefs he has good reason to believe the gunmen were police officers.
Last night, assistant commissioner Reginald Ferguson promised a full investigation into the incident.
Mr Cooper was on the scene shortly after the shooting of Deron Bethel outside his home earlier this week. He claims to know who fired a bullet through Mr Bethel’s car window, killing him instantly.
Deron’s family have accused police of shooting an innocent man and have demanded a full inquiry into the incident.
Mr Cooper, who lives a few doors away from the Bethel family, was in his car outside his own home at around Sam yesterday when the Impala drove up.
Sensing danger, Mr Cooper fled, claiming that two shots were fired from the Impala, one bullet penetrating the passenger door of his Accord.
He drove to his girlfriend’s home in Black Village, telling her he was in fear of his life.
A source told The Tribune last night: “If this turns out to be true, anarchy is going to take over this country. This is a shocking and disgraceful incident.”
Mr Cooper was clearly still shaken last night – more than 14 hours after the incident – when he told The Tribune of his ordeal.
“This happened right outside my own door,” he said. “One bullet hit the passenger door, right under the mirror.” Mr Cooper was on the scene shortly after Deron was shot last Monday. He asked officers who had killed his friend and claimed he was told to leave.
Now he has called for an urgent inquiry into the attempt on his life, saying he was afraid to go home.
Assistant Commissioner Ferguson said police will investigate his claim to determine who shot at him and why.
Until evidence had been gathered, he said he did not wish to speculate on what happened or the motive behind it.
Mr Cooper outlined incidents leading up to yesterday’s shooting. He said at 4.30am he heard a “bamming sound” outside his home.
“Me and my mom woke up and looked outside and there was nobody. We heard this bamming. I went outside and saw some police jeeps and police cars four or five houses down by my neighbour’s house.”
He said he saw a “clearly marked” police jeep and a tan Impala. “I saw guys in an out with flashlights in the same person’s yard. I guess they were doing a search.”
He added: “I went for a drive right there in South Beach around 4:50am. I turned around by the police station and went back home.
“Then, around 5:00am, I turned through my corner. Soon as I turned, I saw this big brown tan car screech in front of me. I drove on the side and I pressed gas.
“All I heard was ‘bam bam’, two shots, so I sped off. I went by my girlfriend’s house. “Then I called South Beach police station and told them ‘One of your officers just shot a gunshot at me’.
Source: The Tribune
