EWARTON, St Catherine — A 34-year-old man, identified as Vivian Francis, was shot and killed by a police officer during an altercation at the Ewarton Sports Complex on Sunday night.
Francis, a Jamaican residing in New Jersey, USA, was attending the event when tensions escalated. According to initial reports, the confrontation began around 10:10 p.m. and quickly spiraled out of control.
Witnesses say the disagreement started after Francis overturned a table, which then led to him allegedly drawing a knife from his waistband. In response, the attending officer, who had been part of the gathering, ordered him to drop the weapon. Despite multiple warnings, Francis reportedly advanced toward the officer, prompting the cop to discharge his firearm.
Francis was struck and later transported to Linstead Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The incident is now under investigation by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), which oversees police actions in Jamaica. Further details surrounding the event and what led to the argument are still emerging, as the community awaits answers on this tragic incident.
