20-year-old Adedra Vidal commonly called Keron who was reportedly shot and killed by police on Saturday, October 12.
HANOVER, Jamaica – The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is appealing for witnesses in an alleged fatal police shooting in Hanover to get in touch with the agency.
It is alleged that police shot and killed 20-year-old Adedra Vidal, commonly called ‘Keron’, of Mt Pelier, Sandy Bay in the parish on Saturday, October 12.
A relative of the deceased, who asked not to be identified, alleged that the police visited the house three days before the incident and asked who the occupants of the house were. The police reportedly asked if any young individuals lived there but were told no one was at the house.
The relative claimed that the police, before leaving the house, gave them a contact number to call should they see any unfamiliar faces. However, the relative claimed that the police returned on Saturday wearing masks.
“Keron and two other persons were in the house. They (police) knocked on the gate and said to open the gate. Keron went upstairs and tell the woman seh him fraid so dem fi follow him come open the gate. Anyway, them follow Keron come open the gate and dem send di woman upstairs and push Keron in one room and bawl seh ‘gun, gun’ and shot Keron in him head,”the relative said.
The relative disclosed that the property is equipped with security cameras.
“You can see on the camera when the man go back in di Jeep and take out a gun and put it on Keron and come out with him,” stated the relative, who added, “dem drive round two times in di community fi see seh, yeah, Keron dead.”
The relative who alleged that $50,000 went missing during the incident,. said Vidal was being taken care of by his parents who are living overseas.
The relative who claimed that Vidal was someone who was afraid of the police “like dawg” was shot at a week before and the matter was reported to the police.
In a security camera video making the rounds on social media, what appears to be the lifeless body of a man said to be Vidal was seen on the ground outside with men appearing to be police standing over the body. The body which was clad in only what appeared to be shorts was later seen lying in the back of a police service vehicle (pick-up truck).
Meanwhile, the distraught mother of Vidal said she is not coping well with the death of her son.
“I am destroyed physically and mentally. This one is hard to swallow,” stated the grieving mother, Sandrea Randall, as she cried.
Randall said Vidal, who is the second of three sons, was a well-behaved child.
“Adedra was a quiet person. Nobody have a problem with that little boy. He was a nice little boy. You can ask anybody in di community about that little boy. That little boy neva make a problem in di community,” said the seemingly depressed mother.
On Wednesday, residents, including Vidal’s family members, staged a protest over the fatal shooting incident, resulting in motorists travelling between Montego Bay and Negril encountering delays.
READ: Sandy Bay main road in Hanover cleared after early morning protest
The family who are calling for justice, wants those responsible for his death to be taken off duty so as to prevent a similar incident from happening.
However, INDECOM reminds the public of the importance of independent witness information in the investigative process and seeks the public’s assistance to provide to the investigating agency any photos, videos, or information available in incidents involving members of the security forces.
This information should be shared via INDECOM’s WhatsApp number (876)553-0000 or the office of the commission at 876-968-1932 or 876-968-8875.
INDECOM further appeals specifically to the original maker(s) of any video recordings of the incident to contact it.
Witnesses to the incidents may also visit the nearest INDECOM office, to provide information which will be useful to the investigation, including providing a statement on the shooting.
Family members and the general public can be assured that a thorough investigation is conducted by INDECOM and all reasonable and necessary investigative lines of enquiry are being explored, said the investigating body in a release, on Wednesday.