5th cop killed: Two others injured in Spanish Town
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Corporal Scarlett Biggs' mother-in-law, Rosalee Whyte (centre), consoles her daughter and Corporal Biggs' wife, Yvonne Biggs (right) and Biggs' daughter Kiana Biggs as they mourn his murder. Biggs was gunned down Sunday evening at his gate on Henderson Avenue, Kingston 11. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)
TWO policemen were yesterday shot and injured in the volatile St John's Road area of Spanish Town, less than 24 hours after the shooting death of a colleague in Kingston, the Jamaican capital.
The names of the injured policemen were not released, but officers said one was admitted to hospital while the other was treated and released.
The two cops, according to the Spanish Town police, were among a group of officers who went in search of wanted men along St John's Road when they allegedly came under gunfire from armed men in the area.
A man, later identified as Kemar McClaughlin, 17, of 76 St John's Road, was shot dead by the police in the alleged gunfight. The police said he was wanted for illegal possession of firearm and shooting with intent.
A .380 pistol, marked Police Nationale DeHaiti, was taken from the dead man's body, the police said. The gun was yesterday sent to the forensic laboratory for analysis, while the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has started investigations to determine its origin. Officers, however, believe that the weapon was among others that entered the country illegally in the drugs-for-guns trade between Jamaica and Haiti.
But the dead man's father, Errol McClaughlin, and residents of St Johns Road yesterday contradicted the police's account of the shooting. They charged that Kemar was killed by the police in cold-blood.
"Him neva have any gun, and when dem come a di yard an call him out him come to dem, an a police woman shoot him inna him chest and kill him," McClaughlin said.
Meanwhile, the family of Corporal Scarlett Biggs, the policeman shot and killed Sunday by gunmen, yesterday expressed outrage at the level of service provided by the public health sector, after Biggs was unable to have an operation at the Kingston Public Hospital. Family members said hospital officials told them that the only operating theatre was being used when he was brought in.
"We were at the Kingston Public Hospital for about one-and-a-half hours before them told us that we have to go to UC (University Hospital of the West Indies)," said the policeman's widow, Yvonne Biggs, her eyes filled with tears. "Him couldn't even talk because him did have the oxygen mask over him face and him was bleeding a lot," she said.
Corporal Biggs, 47, was stationed at the Kingston Central Division and had served the constabulary for 26 years. His death pushed to five, the number of policemen murdered since the beginning of the year.
Mrs Biggs, who recalled yesterday that her husband's life was cut short just a week before their 10th wedding anniversary, said he did not deserve to die the way he did.
"I can't think of any reason why anybody would want to kill him," she said. "He was a very quiet man, nuff people never know seh him was a policeman. As him leave (work) him come straight home."
Mrs Biggs, who was obviously overcome with grief, told the Observer that the gunmen attacked her husband while he was speaking with a man who had come to the house to look at a truck purchased by her brother-in-law.
"I was combing my hair inside the house when I heard a whole heap of shots, so I run outside and I see the man that was talking to my husband jump over the gate and land on him face," she said. "Me ask him for my husband and then me run go outside and me see him pon the ground bleeding."
According to the police, at about 8:25 Sunday evening, Corporal Biggs was standing at his gate at 12 Henderson Avenue conversing with another man when three gunmen drove up, got out of the vehicle and pumped several shots into the policeman's body, then stole his firearm.
He was taken to the hospital where he was admitted in critical condition, but by 2:00 am yesterday the last breath left his body.
Yesterday, several residents gathered at the Biggs' home to console the grieving widow and her children, Kiana, 11, and 15-year-old Daylon.
"You have fi just cry and get it all out," said one resident. "All now me nuh come to miself seh him dead."
Kiana and Daylon, who were still in shock, said their father was a "kind, loving, caring, sharing and helpful dad".
Yesterday, National Security Minister Peter Phillips in extending his condolence to the family, friends and colleagues of Corporal Biggs, said the murder of five policemen in 36 days was "untenable in any country where decent, law-abiding citizens make up the majority of the population".
Added Phillips: "The killing of yet another officer of the law is cause for serious concern, and I call on those who may be in the know about this incident to provide information to the police. Remember, the success of the police in fighting crime and getting rid of these heartless criminals depends on your co-operation."
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