An 18-year-old lay dead in his neighbourhood yesterday after an exchange of gun fire with police. Kadeem Ifill was one of two men involved in a shootout with lawmen just after 5:30 in the densely-populated village at London Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael. The other suspect has not been apprehended.
Reports indicate that Ifill may have been hit by return fire from police who were pursuing the two men. According to lawmen, they responded to reports of two men carrying firearms in the area. Police said they came under attack from the suspects and returned fire.
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Eighteen-year-old Kadeem Ifill (inset) was shot and killed by police today at London Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael.[/caption]
The shooting incident sent the Brittons Hill community into shock.
A statement from the police delivered by Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Rodney Inniss said: “About 5:35p.m, the police responded to reports that two men with guns were at this location, London Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael. Two police units responded and upon arrival at the scene, they saw and were confronted by two individuals with what appeared to be firearms. The two men started to run, and the police came under attack and as a result the police responded. One man fell to the ground, and one loaded firearm was recovered.”
The identity of the other man, who escaped on foot is unknown.
Residents told Barbados TODAY that the deceased had recently finished secondary school. One lady, who did not want to be identified, said she was especially taken aback by the news as the young man was not known to be a troublemaker.
“I am really shocked and hurt, they didn’t have to do him so. That boy can’t be more than 17 or 18 years old. The most he does be involved with is playing little football up at Valery playing field. He is not a troublemaker,” said the woman, who admitted that she did not witness the leadup to the death. Two other residents, who were among the onlookers, agreed with
the assessment of the other resident of the area.
As the news spread of the fatal shooting, the young man’s friends took to his Instagram page to express condolences.
Last month, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Erwin Boyce, called for respect for law enforcement, in the wake of reports that his officers were shot at in the wee hours of New Year’s Day. At the time Boyce told Barbados TODAY that while it was not the first time that officers were allegedly attacked in the line of duty, the shooting was a clear indicator that respect for law enforcement must be given close attention.
“We will be naïve if we were to say that we do not expect that people would not challenge us from time to time. Because of the nature of policing, which deals with the correction of behaviour, people will challenge us. But we must monitor the level of disrespect for authority and disrespect for law and order. We need to take corrective, preventative action early in order to stop any developing trend,” he said.
The incident comes the day before tomorrow’s National Strategic Consultation on the Social Response to Crime in Barbados. The event brings together relevant public and private sector entities, faith-based communities, service organizations as well as the media, to strategize on crime related matters, including the worrying rise of gun related crimes.
Barbados TODAY also understands that another police unit rushing to the scene was involved in an accident in the vicinity of the Norman Niles Round-a-bout.
The post Teen killed during altercation with police appeared first on Barbados Today.
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