BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — Placard-bearing residents of Speculation district on Wednesday demonstrated on the Oxford main road as they called for a thorough investigation into the fatal shooting of three men by the police.

Police alleged that the men, who were shot dead in an alleged gunfight Tuesday, were members of the Speculation Gang.

They are Wednesday identified as 19-year-old Najae Smith, a resident of Speculation district; 21-year-old Shamar Brown; and 20-year-old Ricardo Salmon, both of Oxford district.

A police report said about 4:45 pm the men engaged them in a shoot-out on the Speculation main road while the law enforcers were on an operation.

Police said two illegal firearms – a 1.3 revolver with two rounds, and a Beretta .22 with nine rounds – were seized following the shooting.

According to the police, members of the Speculation Gang have been committing murders and robberies across St Elizabeth.

However, residents on Wednesday claimed that the men were killed in “cold blood” and were targeted by the police.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said the men were not a part of any gang.

“We want justice, dem just kill the likkle yout dem innocently… The likkle youth dem just a come a dem yard and dem [police] shoot up the car,” she claimed. She said she was close to the three men.

“It is not true; there is no gang in Speculation. A bare women live here and likkle pickney,” she said, while calling on the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) to properly investigate the matter.

Another resident also claimed that only women and children live in Speculation.

“… We want justice. Wi tiad a the police dem. Dem a take set pon the innocent youths. Wi tiad a dem,” she said.

Head of the St Elizabeth police, Superintendent Dwight Daley, said the police respected the residents’ right to have a peaceful protest and police were cooperating with INDECOM investigators.

Superintendent Daley said the communities of Brompton, Spring Park, Speculation, and Oxford have been on the police’s radar since a flare-up of intra-gang conflict months ago.

“We seized bikes, arrested people for various breaches [in that] area which has been highly policed. We have a consistent police presence there,” he said.

On Wednesday, INDECOM Assistant Commissioner Hamish Campbell said it was still “early days” in the investigation.

“We have interviewed the officers to hear their initial accounts – an explanation of how these three men came to be killed. A forensic examination is being conducted by INDECOM and the Jamaica Constabulary Force,” he said.

He said the two seized weapons as well as the service weapons of the police officers have been sent for ballistic testing.

He added that extensive interviews of the police officers are to be completed by next week.

“At the moment there appears to be no witnesses to the event other than the police officers’ account, so if anybody did witness any part of it or heard any part of it, we [INDECOM] wish to speak to them in confidence as to what it is they saw or heard,” he added.

People with information that can assist in the investigation are being urged to contact INDECOM.