ST ANN, Jamaica — A number of people travelling between St Mary and Ocho Rios were stranded earlier today or had to use alternative routes after residents mounted a road block in Boscobel, protesting last night’s fatal police shooting in their community.

David McLean, also called Blessed, a 45-year-old man who operated a small shop at the intersection of Gully Road and the Boscobel main road, was shot dead about 11:53 pm when the police reportedly responded to a call at the location.

“They reported that they engaged a man and the man was fatally wounded. They reported also that they recovered a firearm,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Area Two Norman Heywood.

He said residents have disputed police reports; hence, the protest.

Residents used their bodies to block the roads early Wednesday morning in protest of the killing. The protest later escalated with debris being used to block the roads.

The roadblock was cleared this afternoon after Minister of National Security Robert Montague, who is also Member of Parliament for Western St Mary, visited the area and spoke to the residents.

The Independent Commissions of Investigations (INDECOM) is probing the shooting.

Renae Dixon