Cover-Up Exposed? Relatives Share Footage Disputing Police Killing of Man in St. Catherine – Video Report
The relatives of a St. Catherine man are disputing the claims made by the police that he was killed during a gun battle and have released footage they believe proves that the young man was killed without provocation.
Romario Sterling was killed in Pineapple Lane, Bog Walk, by members of the security forces. Reports by the authorities detailing the incident indicate that Sterling exchanged gunfire with the police at the time of his death, which they said took place during the night at around 8:20 p.m.
However, a video released by Sterling’s family appears to reveal contradictions to the statements made by the police. One notable difference is the time the incident is said to have taken place, with a CCTV camera capturing the moments before Sterling’s death reportedly at 7:49 a.m. instead of at night.
In the video, multiple members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) can be seen at the scene of the incident. According to Sterling’s father, his son surrendered to the officers after they arrived at his home.
After seemingly speaking to one of the officers with his hand on his head, Sterling appears to have been instructed to kneel and can be seen on the footage bending down. The footage shared by the family then cuts to a later portion of the video, during which Sterling and the officers cannot be clearly seen.
After a few moments of silence, a single gunshot can be heard, after which an officer can be seen walking calmly from behind a fenced area.
Following Sterling’s death last week on Thursday, his family is speaking out against his alleged wrongful death. Despite the police’s reports that a 9mm pistol was retrieved from Sterling, his father stated that there was no evidence that a shoot-out took place at the residence.
“No gunshot nuh come through di zink. Suh, if him in a yah suh a shoot afta dem, dem suppose to stand outa door an shoot afta him in here,” Sterling’s father stated.
He also expressed that his son was a good student who had no history of wrongdoing.
“Teacha will tell yuh seh a inna chair my son sidung a school. No bad reputation from nuh school, seh my son a fight.”
The police have maintained their initial statements, describing the circumstances that led to Sterling’s death as self-defence. The incident is currently being investigated by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) to ascertain if there was any wrongdoing.
learn more in the video report below.
