MONTEGO BAY, St James — Nambia McFarlane could not hide her anguish as she chastised members of the security forces for their role in the New Year’s Day death of her four-year-old son, Romain Bowman. McFarlane said little Romain was in bed when he was shot after military personnel opened fire on their house.

“The first shot my baby got mi bawl out say, ‘Baby in the house!’ Mi open my door and them say, ‘Go s..k yu mother and galang back in!’” the resident of Brown’s Lane in Granville, St James, told the
Jamaica Observer Thursday as a protest staged by angry neighbours swirled around her.

“When them turn on the next rifle on the baby and lick out the baby side a police came in and said, ‘Oh God, I have a baby too man,’ that is when they took up the baby, because the soldier not giving me any chance to carry the baby out. Him say I should stay in the house because I have gunman in the house. No gunman not in the house,” McFarlane insisted.

Her child, a senior citizen, and two men were shot minutes into the new year as the community celebrated. According to the official report from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), a 68-year-old woman received treatment for injuries, two men were pronounced dead at hospital, and the four-year-old died while being treated.

“The JCF extends sincere condolence to the family of the child and expresses deep regret at the loss of this young life, as well as concern for all civilians affected. Investigations are ongoing, including investigations by the relevant oversight bodies, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are being thoroughly examined. The identities of the two deceased males are being verified, and intelligence-led enquiries are continuing,” it said in a mid-afternoon release.

The JCF said the incident occurred when a joint police/military team responded to reports of explosions and gunfire in Brown’s Lane.

It was not clear whether the explosions were gun salutes marking the start of 2026.

In the weeks before the incident, the JCF made it clear that it would maintain a heightened vigilance and zero-tolerance approach towards irresponsible firearm use and illegal use of fireworks during the holiday season.

Speaking with the Observer Thursday, Deputy Superintendent of Police Peter Salkey — who said an AK-47 rifle was seized during the incident — promised that results from a police probe will be shared. He commiserated with relatives of those injured and fatally shot while stressing the need for law and order to be maintained.

“We are aware that it can be hurtful when we lose loved ones, but the police have to do the necessary investigations and police activities in the area to make sure that you are safe,” Salkey said.

He also appealed for anyone with information to come forward and share it with investigators.

Placard-waving residents had a lot to say during Thursday’s protest, using old furniture and appliances to block the road as they hurled insults at members of the security forces.

“I want justice for my innocent baby. Mi baby innocent to what happened. You say man run, you go look for the man that run, you don’t need to turn on no gun pon my little one,” McFarlane railed.

Clarissa Anderson said a bullet grazed her head as she slept in bed while the security forces made their way through the area declaring that they were looking for wanted men. She was incensed that McFarlane lost her child.

“If the soldier did just make the mother carry out the baby from him get the first shot, the baby would have been saved; is the second shot kill the baby,” Anderson claimed.

A man who gave his name as Prince said his son, Kevon Martinez, was one of the two men fatally shot. Prince argued that his son didn’t deserve that fate.

“I know they are going to say you a take up for your child, protecting your child; but I know point blank say the level they are trying to put it — like them buck up on some vicious people, some serial murderer where them had to return fire — nothing like that,” said Prince.

He said his son and the other man were on their way to Martinez’s girlfriend’s house at the time of the incident.

“You know that it is New Year’s Eve, so no matter where you go in Jamaica, at this time of the year, you go hear gunshot a fire — whether legal or illegal — and fire crackers, all of that,” he said.

“That don’t give you no right to say that it is a shoot-out. And because you buck up on the two youth then you are going to decide your mind and don’t even give them a second chance. You give him so much bullet! You shoot him in his foot and him go down and you give him so much shot brethren!” he agonised.

Prince said his son was not perfect, and while he tended to yield to peer pressure he was not a murderer.

Councillor Michael Troupe (People’s National Party, Granville Division) called for a swift investigation into the fatal shooting of little Romain and for all the members of the security forces who were on the operation to be immediately removed from front-line duty.

“Baby in him bed, not even live to see the new year; a baby — four years old — shot by the police and the soldiers in my division, very unfortunate, very sad state to start the new year,” said Troupe.

Clarissa Anderson points to the side of her head which she alleged was grazed by a bullet fired during an operation by the security forces as she slept in bed in Granville, St James early on New Year’s Day.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Peter Salkey at the scene of Thursday’s protest by residents of Brown;s Lane in Granville, St James. 

This man, who gave his name as Prince, said his son Kevon Martinez was among those fatally shot during a joint police-military operation in Granville, St James, on New Year’s Day.

Four-year-old Romain Bowman, who was fatally shot minutes into the new year, allegedly by members of the security forces.