Indecom Opens Probes Into Four Police, Soldier Shootings That Left Five Men Dead

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) has confirmed that it has opened inquiries into four separate incidents on Monday in which five men were shot dead by members of the security forces.

According to the agency, Ricardo Gayle was killed by soldiers at a zone of special operation (ZOSO) checkpoint in August Town, St Andrew. In Greater Portmore, St Catherine, police gunned down 25-year-old Paul Francis and 27-year-old Omar Hooke at Five West. A fourth fatal shooting claimed the life of 42-year-old Justin Bondfield, who was killed by police in the Wheelerfield District of Golden Grove, St Thomas, while 39-year-old Peter Gooden was shot dead by police at May Pen Town Centre in Clarendon.

Indecom indicated that the killings in August Town and at the May Pen Town Centre reportedly involved men dealing with mental health issues.

The commission noted that Monday's deaths push the tally of fatal shootings by the security forces for April 2026 to 37. So far this year, 113 people have been shot and killed by security personnel, compared with 106 over the same window in 2025.

Investigators have processed each scene, recovering and packaging evidential material. The hands of the deceased were swabbed for gunshot residue, and their bodies were photographed and sealed ahead of post mortem examinations.

The officers involved were served with Section 21 Notices under the Independent Commission of Investigations Act, 2010, requiring them to submit statements and sit for interviews.