Rights commission urges independent probe into Latoya Bulgin police shooting in St James

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has voiced serious alarm over the killing of Latoya Bulgin, who was shot by police in Granville, St. James, last week.

Bulgin was among people demonstrating after a 17-year-old boy was fatally shot by police on Mother's Day. Her death has widened public concern over police use of force in Jamaica and renewed calls for body-worn cameras to help provide independent records when such incidents occur.

In a statement posted on X, the commission said it had noted that the officer involved had been interdicted and that an investigation was in progress. It urged that the matter be examined quickly, independently, fairly and openly.

The human rights body also said states have a duty to protect and enable peaceful protest. It added that when police use force, it must be limited to what is necessary, proportionate to the situation, and directed at protecting life and personal safety.

The shooting has sparked outrage among many Jamaicans, with the case adding to wider debate about accountability, public trust and the need for independent evidence in police encounters.