KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is urging residents in Denham Town, West Kingston to cooperate while the security forces conduct operations within the space to ensure the safety of law-abiding citizens.

The JDF’s comments came following the shooting death of a civilian in the community, reportedly by a soldier, during operations by a joint mobile patrol team on Saturday.

“An internal investigation into the incident is being conducted and the JDF continues to cooperate with INDECOM and the civil authorities as required,” said the JDF statement issued on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Horaine Glenn of a Charles Street, Kingston address.

According to reports, about 6:20pm a team of JDF personnel was on foot patrol in the community when they saw a group of four men who aroused their suspicion. The men were approached and the JDF requested to search them.

The JDF team reported that while conducting the search, they were approached by a woman who was behaving boisterously and proceeded to spit on members of the team. The report added that the team was then approached by Glenn who had a beer bottle in his hand and allegedly proceeded to pour the contents on the JDF members.

One military personnel reported that they attempted to take Glenn into custody but he ran into a yard. Glenn was pursued into the yard by one soldier, and a woman also ran in behind.

It is reported that the woman held onto the right hand of the soldier while Glenn tried to disarm him by holding on to the soldier’s M-16 rifle. A tussle ensued during which the soldier discharged four rounds from the firearm.

Glenn received gunshots to his abdomen and was assisted to the Kingston Public Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.