Granville protest turns deadly as police shoot woman amid calls for accountability

A woman residents knew as Buju, identified in reports as Latoya Bulggin, was shot and killed in Granville, St. James, on Sunday afternoon while tensions were still high over the police fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy about a week earlier.

Eyewitnesses told CVM News the incident unfolded in the Granville Square area, where people had been protesting for roughly two weeks and had planned to move their demonstration toward Sam Sharpe Square. Locals said the woman was sitting in the driver's seat of a black van when officers took her driver's licence and then opened fire.

Community members argued there was no justification for lethal force. "Life is a life," one resident said. "You cannot take life as you feel like." Others said fatigue had set in after last week's death and now another fatality. People said they could not continue to accept killings in disputed circumstances.

Member of Parliament Marlene Malahoo Fort, who went to the scene, said emotions in Granville remain raw so any police response must be measured with life preservation as the priority. She said she stands on the side of the law and expects swift action once footage is reviewed, noting public trust in the system is already low.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force said the police high command has interdicted an officer linked to the shooting. The matter has been reported to INDECOM and the Independent Commission of Investigations, which have opened full probes. Preliminary review of CCTV footage led to the disciplinary step. The force said conduct outside the law or professional standards will not be tolerated and pledged accountability and transparency while investigations continue.

Earlier on the CVM Sunrise broadcast, hosts noted an officer had been placed on interdiction as part of breaking coverage and urged proportional use of force, while also warning civilians not to interfere in active police operations.

In separate political news, Opposition Leader and PNP President Mark Golding accused the Government of mismanaging Hurricane Melissa relief money after reviewing the Auditor General's report. He said that as at 23 February 2026, five months after the hurricane, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management had received about J$1.44 billion in cash but had spent only about J$26 million, less than 2%, while many hard-hit communities remain in need. Golding also criticised moving ODPM under the Office of the Prime Minister and changing its leadership.

On the sports desk, Brownstown, coached by Donovan Lofters, won the Cassava Championship with a 2–0 victory over CVU Gardens on Saturday night at Constant Spring Ground, earning a playoff place in the Jamaica Football Federation second-tier pathway.