Residents of Fleet Street protest the fatal shooting of community member Jermaine Richards in the vicinity of the the Ribbiz UltraLounge on Sunday, January 27, 2025. (Photo: Ramon Thompson)
January 27, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Residents of Fleet Street in Kingston continue to protest the fatal shooting of community member Jermaine Richards by an off-duty policeman. On Sunday night, they demonstrated in the vicinity of the Ribbiz UltraLounge on Ardenne Road where Richards worked as a chef.
“We want justice!” the placard-bearing protestors shouted in unison.
One woman told reporters that the residents deliberately chose to demonstrate at that time as the club was hosting its “Big People Sunday” series, noting that they felt it was the best time to get the attention of the leadership of the organisation.
Richards was fatally shot Thursday morning in the parking lot of the Ardenne Emirates Plaza complex where Ribbiz UltraLounge is located.
The circumstances that led to the shooting are still unclear, and the residents of Fleet Street demand answers.
“Is just justice we want served, nobody not giving us any (information) of what really occurred between Jermaine and them… all now the owners don’t get to (the family),” the woman said.
In a statement on Thursday, the operators and staff of Ribbiz UltraLounge said they were “shocked and deeply saddened” by the death of Richards who was remembered as a hardworking and dedicated member of the Ribbiz family.
READ: Ribbiz UltraLounge ‘deeply saddened’ over team member’s death
The Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) said it is probing the incident.