Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Spanish Town, St. Catherine:

The seizure of a sixth gun by the St. Catherine South police has caused some disturbance in the Lakes Pen community in the parish as residents have questioned the authorities' account of how the weapon was recovered.

According to the police, about 5 p.m. on Wednesday, they were called to the Lakes Pen area, and, on entering a section where sand mining was being conducted, three men engaged them in a shoot-out. The police fired back at the men who ran away. On searching the area, 24-year-old carpenter, Maurice Jackson, was found suffering from gunshot wounds. The police say he was clutching a 9mm pistol with seven live rounds.

Road block

Jackson was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The police said they recovered a further 10 rounds from his trouser pocket. Yesterday, they were still searching for the other men involved in the shoot-out.

The residents of the community, who blocked the road yesterday, disputed the police claims. They said Jackson, along with the other persons, was at the sand bed, when policemen, dressed in blue uniforms, and driving marked and unmarked vehicles, approached and asked: "Whey the gun deh?"

"Him (Jackson) did a put him phone inna him pocket and de police dem jus start fire shot and kill him," claimed an alleged eyewitness.

Antoinette Adamson, Jackson's older sister, described him as a hard-working individual who was seeking greener pastures.

"He was living in St. Mary and working in Kingston. But his boss left the island, so that's why he was over here trying to make a living. I don't know him as a gunman," she told The Gleaner as she wept.

The Bureau of Special Investigations has commenced a probe into the incident.