Seaton Crescent, Westmoreland residents protest over fatal police shooting

There was a tense stand-off between the police and residents of Seaton Crescent in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, today as they protested the fatal shooting of one of their own during an alleged confrontation with cops.

The deceased has been identified as Desmond Montaque, a former Godfrey Stewart High School footballer.

The incident happened shortly after 1:00 p.m.

Residents contend that a police team kicked in the door to Montaque's house, and shortly after, three shots were heard.

"When dem drag him out the man was only in his underpants.... is three shots we hear and his three shots him get so how that was a shoot-out?" said a resident.

"Desmond was a quiet, easy-going youth. He was never ever in trouble with the law, so I want to see how the police going to explain this," the resident added.

"Because we a protest, the police dem come tear-gas we but we want justice....dem just can't a walk around and a kill people like that...we have to bawl out bout it."

Efforts to contact the Savanna-la-mar police were unsuccessful.

- Adrian Frater

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