Clarendon Police Shooting Leaves O’Neil Hamilton Dead, Officer Injured

A police operation in the Farm section of Effortville, Clarendon, ended on Friday with a man fatally shot and a policeman hurt after a round hit his protective vest, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

The injured policeman, assigned to the Area Three Anti-Fugitive Apprehension Team, was hit in the chest area. He was brought to hospital, received treatment, and is listed in stable condition.

The dead man has been named as 23-year-old O’Neil Hamilton, also known as ‘Jay’ and ‘Puttae’. Police said Hamilton was a labourer from Oliver Garden in May Pen.

The JCF said members of the apprehension team were conducting an operation in Effortville when gunmen allegedly opened fire on them. The police said the officers fired back, and Hamilton was afterward found with gunshot injuries. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead.

Police said a gun was seized during the operation.

Investigators also said Hamilton was connected to a number of criminal acts in Area Three, among them a robbery at a bar on Sewell Crescent in May Pen earlier Friday. In that case, Hamilton and another man allegedly fired weapons while escaping, the police said.

The case has been sent to the Independent Commission of Investigations.