OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Police Constable Sheldon Williams, accused of misbehaviour while on a pleasure boat in this resort town, was fatally shot under questionable circumstances during a confrontation with his colleagues Sunday night, prompting a probe by the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI).

Terrence Williams, commissioner of the recently formed Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), said last night that his office would manage, supervise, direct and control the investigation into the death of Constable Williams, as well as five other controversial fatal police shootings.

Superintendent Ezra Stewart, the officer in charge of administration at the BSI, told the Observer yesterday that the policemen involved in the fatal shooting of the 25-year-old constable have been taken off front line duties.

Constable Williams, otherwise called ‘Syvan’, who resided at Barclay Town in Gayle, St Mary, worked at the Police Amoury in Kingston.

Another policeman who was injured in an alleged gunfight involving Constable Williams was admitted to hospital in stable condition.

While there was confirmation by the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) about the fatal shooting of the policeman, allegedly by officers from Ocho Rios, there was no official report from the Police High Command on the incident up to last night.

Constable Williams was said to be among several police personnel participating in a fundraising party aboard the boat when he was accused of behaving in a boisterous manner and also of discharging several rounds in the air. He was reportedly warned for prosecution by a senior cop who was also a patron at the party.

Williams was arrested when he disembarked the vessel and was taken to the Ocho Rios Police Station.

It was alleged that while the constable was being processed inside the guardroom, he reached for his firearm, which was reportedly taken from him and placed on a table. It is said that Williams grabbed the gun, ran and allegedly fired at his colleagues who chased him. The officers, a source claimed, fired back and Williams received a fatal bullet.

About 50 relatives and friends of the dead policeman later demonstrated outside the Ocho Rios Police Station, accusing Williams’ colleagues of murdering him.

“I would feel better if my son was killed by a gunman,” Constable Williams’ father Devon Williams told the Observer.

The BSI’s Superintendent Stewart promised that the matter would be investigated thoroughly, and urged people with information to come forward.

“Ocho Rios police cannot be trusted; they are murderers,” one protester said, making reference to last month’s controversial killing of Ian ‘Ching Sing’ Lloyd at Old Buckfield.

A police sergeant, who was caught by a cellphone video shooting Lloyd who was lying on the ground and appeared unharmed and subdued, has since been charged with murder.

Constable Williams, who served the constabulary for nearly five years, was described by his relatives as a humble person who was passionate about serving his country.