WESTERN BUREAU — The Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) has been called in to probe Monday’s police shooting of 17 year-old Paul Miller of a Flankers address in St James.

The police’s information officer for St James, Camille Tracey, told the Observer that at about 4:00 pm, the police was carrying out an operation in the Providence Heights area when a group of eight men fired shots at them.

The police returned the fire, and the men ran in different directions, Tracy said.

She said a search was later conducted in the area and Miller, who was reportedly among the group, was found suffering from gunshot wounds.

He was taken to hospital where he was admitted in stable condition under police guard.

The police said Miller was subsequently charged with shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

But area residents, who have disputed the police’s account of the incident, staged a demonstration in the community Tuesday morning to highlight “their disgust” at the action of the lawmen.

The residents claimed that Miller was among a group of men playing dominoes on Church Hill Avenue when the police began firing shots.

One resident told the Observer that when the teenager was shot, the police refused to take him to the hospital for treatment.

“It was a taxi man who was passing (who) saw the boy and took him to the hospital,” a resident said.

And Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor for the area, Charles Sinclair, yesterday condemned the shooting, which he branded as “senseless and obviously unjust”.

He also questioned the reason why Miller was arrested and charged one day after the incident occurred.

“If the youth was seen with a gun, why didn’t the police take him into the custody after they shot him?” he asked.

“No police took him into custody yesterday (Monday) after he was shot, and it was a resident who took him to the hospital,” Sinclair maintained.

He also denied that the boy was placed under police guard while he was in hospital on Monday.

Councillor Sinclair, who is also an attorney, added that the teenager was unjustly charged and has called for a “full and independent probe” into the matter.

Meanwhile, the police have also yet to establish a motive for Monday’s murder of Irel Holmes, 18, of Rose Heights, St James.

Reports are that at about 7:50 pm, residents reportedly heard gunshots and called the police. On their arrival, Holmes’ body as seen lying in the bushes with gunshots wounds.

He was taken to the nearby Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Montego Bay police are said to be investigating.