Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Assistant Commissioner of Police Granville Gause (left), head of the Bureau of Special Investigations, talks with residents of Ivy district in Ewarton, St Catherine, yesterday after three men were shot and killed by the police. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:

Ivy District was filled with tension yesterday after an ex-soldier and two brothers were killed by police.

The dead men are Romaine 'Levar' Miller, 26, a former member of the Jamaica Defence Force; and brothers Ian Williams, 25, and Damion Williams, all of White House addresses in St Catherine.

Police report that about 4:00 Sunday morning, they went into the community in search of men who were firing shots in the area. When they approached a two-apartment dwelling, they were greeted with gunfire. After the police returned the fire, the area was searched and Miller and the two brothers found suffering from gunshot wounds.

The police reportedly seized two handguns.

Several senior police personnel, including head of the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI), Granville Gause, visited the community and collected statements from witnesses.

"Investigations into the matter will be fair and balanced by the team from the BSI," Gause told The Gleaner.

Not wrongdoers

However, the residents' claims differ with the police report.

"We don't know about the ex-soldier, but we know the brothers were not wrongdoers," said one bystander. "Especially the one name Damion. We call him 'Quack' because him nuh too sensible and it really sad that them (police) kill everybody."

Other persons on the scene claimed the rural community has been free of crime and that they were shocked by yesterday's incident.

Joyce Williams, aunt of Ian and Damion, said the latter was a special person.

"Is a few years ago him lef' from a St Catherine school for slow learning," she said, tears streaming down her face. "He went to America where he won a hockey trophy and took it back to me as a gift. I can't believe this really happened."

Overcome with grief, she subsequently fainted and was revived by relatives.