(Jamaica Gleaner) The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has released a statement outlining their version of the events which resulted in the death of 16-year-old Vanessa Kirkland last night.
Kirkland, an Immaculate High Student, was shot in what the police have described as a shooting incident involving criminals and lawmen on Norman Lane in Kingston.
Residents of Greenwich Farm, where Kirkland lived have protested the killing. They say Kirkland was killed when members of the JCF approached a car which she was travelling in and opened fire.
An emailed press release from the JCF says that a preliminary report concluded that the confrontation between criminals and the police took place after several persons were robbed in Portmore, St. Catherine and after which the robbers made their escape to Kingston in a motor car.
The police statement has not explained the details of the confrontation or the time it took place.
The statement, however, concluded that seven passengers (four females and three males) were discovered travelling in the motor car.
The police have not described the make of the vehicle, but reports say it is a Suzuki Swift motorcar.
The police say four other persons (three females and a male) were also shot and injured.
The other two men escaped.
Five of the persons involved in the incident are from addresses in Greenwich Farm while the other two are from Norman Lane addresses according to the police.
The police also claim that a Taurus .38 revolver with three live rounds and several spent shells were seized.
The police officers involved in the incident have been taken off front line duties and their hands have been swabbed.
The police are reporting that the persons robbed in Portmore have subsequently indentified the motor car used by the robbers and several of the items that were stolen from them including BlackBerry telephones.
The incident has been reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI).
The Police are requesting persons with information of the incident to share what they know with INDECOM and BSI investigators.
