Man killed in police shooting during search operation in Spanish Town

INDECOM has launched an investigation into the fatal police shooting, as Jamaica continues to face scrutiny over the rising number of deaths involving members of the security forces.

Written by Amara Campbell

Published 2026-09-07 19:35:56

Updated 2026-09-07 21:01:24

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INDECOM probes fatal police shooting during Spanish Town search operation

Jamaica: A man was shot and killed by police during a search operation in Shelter Rock in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, early Sunday morning. The police have identified him as Tuffman from Jones Pen.

According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force, several armed officers with a search warrant visited a location in the vicinity at around 6:50 am. The man was reportedly a person of interest in several criminal cases being investigated within the St Catherine North police division.

The team approached the residence where the door was opened but quickly shut. They continued towards the location and entered the premises.

During the search, police said that the occupant allegedly pointed a firearm at the officers. The team started shooting at the man as an act of self defence. They found the man armed with a gun that police said had been seized from his possession. It was determined to be a .38 revolver carrying five rounds of ammunition.

The injured man was taken to the nearby Spanish Town Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the medical staff.

An investigation has been started into the incident and the circumstances surrounding the shooting by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).

According to INDECOM, 133 individuals had died from gunshot wounds caused by Jamaica’s security forces as of early June 2026. This recorded an average of more than 26 deaths per month and followed 311 security-force fatalities recorded in 2025.

The high level of deaths has increased the need for accountability, while the Independent Commission of Investigations continues to probe police-involved fatal shootings across the country.

Locals have taken to social media calling for in-depth investigations into these cases. One user commented, “Authorities should share the bodycam footages with public to keep transparency in such cases.”

Another asked, “Why the police always shoot and kill the person and not shoot them in leg or arm to get an upper hand instead?”