MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A man was fatally shot by the police during an alleged confrontation in Mollison district, Christiana, Manchester on Wednesday.

Police named the man as 55-year-old Ronald Evans, otherwise called Richard.

Preliminary reports are that sometime after 5:00 am there was a targeted operation at a house where Evans resided in the area. Police say during the operation they were confronted by Evans and that a firearm was seized.

“This individual chose to confront law enforcement and our officers responded as they were trained to do. A glock 40 pistol was recovered during this fatal confrontation” Commanding Officer for Area Three, Acting Commissioner of Police Calvin Allen said.

However, residents described Evans as a hardworking member of the community since he moved from Spanish Town to the area.

“This morning I heard that the police gunned down Richard. I don’t know him as no bad man. He came into the community for 13 years with one baby and he got two more, trying to be a good gentleman. We don’t know what happened in the past,” a resident told Observer Online.

Meanwhile, ACP Allen said other operations were carried out in St Elizabeth and Clarendon.

In St Elizabeth, Allen said “A successful targeted operation earlier this morning led to the seizure of three firearms, including a high-powered rifle, and the seizure also of some 38 assorted rounds. Six people, including a female [were] taken into custody from that operation.”

Finally in Clarendon, lawmen conducted a targeted raid which led to the seizure of three motor vehicles.

Allen said one of those vehicles has already been identified as stolen.

— Kasey Williams

A police vehicle on the scene of a police shooting in Christiana, Manchester on February 26.
(Photo Kasey Williams)