ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — The Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) has reported that 12 people have been shot and killed by members of the security forces since the start of the year, across six separate incidents on January 1 and January 5.

In a media release issued Tuesday, Indecom said four of the deaths occurred on Monday, stemming from a triple fatal shooting in Manchester and a separate fatal shooting in Clarendon.

“Yesterday’s triple fatal shooting is the third such multiple fatality incident investigated by the commission since the start of 2026,” Indecom noted.

The commission further reported that eight people were killed by security forces on January 1. Among them were three males under the age of 18. Those deaths resulted from two triple fatal shooting incidents in St James and Westmoreland, as well as two single fatal shootings in Kingston.

Deputy Commissioner of Indecom, Yanique Taylor-Wellington, voiced serious concern about the rising number of fatal police shootings, highlighting a 65 per cent increase in 2025 compared with 2024, and a 300 per cent rise in deaths during the first five days of 2026.

“Indecom notes with concern, the alarming increase in fatal police shootings recorded in Jamaica during 2025, and the troubling manner in which 2026 has commenced as it relates to deaths by state agents. At the end of 2025, 311 persons were shot and killed by the police, representing a 65 per cent increase over the previous year,” Taylor-Wellington said.

“That equates to an additional 122 citizens losing their lives by members of the security forces. Already for 2026, 12 persons have been shot and killed over a two day period. Indecom continues its statutory duty to independently, impartially and promptly investigate all incidents in which a person is shot by a member of the security forces. All citizens can be assured that Indecom’s investigations into the recent fatal shootings will be pursued thoroughly, objectively and neutrally. If any breaches of the law are identified, Indecom will take all appropriate steps in accordance with its mandate,” she continued.

The deceased men in the January 1 incidents are 29-year-old Shamar Turner (fatal shooting on Mannings Hill Road, Kingston 19); four-year-old Romaine Bowman (fatal shooting in Granville, St James); 16-year-old Kevaun Martinez (fatal shooting in Granville, St James); 24-year-old Desmond Dunkley (fatal shooting in Granville, St James); 44-year-old Corel Wint (fatal shooting in Olympic Gardens, Kingston 11); 37-year-old Delano Leslie (fatal shooting in Bethel Town, Westmoreland); 15-year-old Romaine Campbell (fatal shooting in Bethel Town, Westmoreland); and Christopher Campbell (fatal shooting in Bethel Town, Westmoreland).

The deceased men in the January 5 incidents are 23-year-old Byron McDonald (fatal shooting in St Toolies, Manchester); 26-year-old Teshawn Porteous (fatal shooting in St Toolies, Manchester); and 19-year-old Rasheed Johnson (fatal shooting in St Toolies, Manchester).

The deceased man in the fatal shooting in Clarendon Park is not yet identified.

Indecom said, cumulatively, eight firearms were reportedly recovered by the police in the six incidents.

Additionally, no body-worn cameras were reported as being activated by any of the police officers in any of the fatal shooting incidents investigated by Indecom, with one police officer reporting that he was in possession of a body-worn camera, but it was not activated as he did not have a clip to wear it.

Indecom said all incident scenes were examined and the evidential material recovered, processed and packaged. The hands of the deceased were swabbed for gunshot residue, and their bodies photographed and sealed, pending post mortem examination.

The concerned officers were served with Section 21 Notices, pursuant to the Independent Commission of Investigations Act, 2010, to submit statements and or attend interviews.