Police kill armed taxi hijacking suspect after Camp Road chase in Kingston

A man was shot dead by police Wednesday evening after an alleged taxi hijacking on Camp Road in Kingston ended in a reported exchange of gunfire.

The incident happened about 6:20 p.m. Reports are that the man entered the taxi while pretending to be a commuter.

During the trip, the driver reportedly stopped to collect a woman. The male passenger is alleged to have resisted that move and, during the encounter, showed a gun.

The cabbie reportedly shifted the vehicle into neutral, got out and alerted a police team that was passing in the area.

Police allege that the armed man then took over the taxi and drove off, leading officers into a pursuit. The vehicle later ran into a tree along the road.

An exchange of gunfire was then reported, and the man was shot and killed. Police said a gun was seized after the incident.

The Independent Commission of Investigations has been informed and is expected to examine the fatal shooting.

It is the first police fatal shooting recorded for June. Up to June 3, police and other security force members had fatally shot 139 people since the beginning of the year.