ST CATHERINE, Jamaica -The police have launched a probe into an incident where a 23- year-old man from Kitson Town disrupted a burial, desecrated a corpse and was shot dead by a licensed firearm holder on Monday.

The man, who is believed to be mentally challenged, reportedly pulled the body from the casket during a burial at the Dovecot Memorial Park, and hurled bottles and stones at the mourners before he was reportedly shot by the licensed firearm holder.

“The matter is being investigated. I have no comment on the investigation at this time,” Superintendent Hopton Nicholson, head of the St Catherine North Police Division, told Observer Online.

The man has since been identified as Isaac Foster from Penny Piece district in Kitson Town, St Catherine.

Reports are that a burial of a female was in progress at Dovecot Memorial Park when it is alleged that Foster used a piece of concrete block to hit one of the mourners on the head and threw the body from the casket and began to desecrate the body. Foster also began throwing stones at the gathering of mourners which included licensed firearm holders.

REAF:Man shot dead during fracas at St Catherine burial

Foster allegedly continued to advance towards the mourners and two licensed firearm holders with stones and, in fear of their lives, discharged their weapons in his direction, hitting him. A licensed firearm holder, who was injured during the fracas, was treated at the Spanish Town Hospital and released.

The Guanaboa Vale police are investigating.