Since September 15, a mother, relatives, and friends are left heart-broken and sad after the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Jamar Farquharson at his home in Cherry Tree Lane in Clarendon by police. Newly released video footage inside the home shows Jamar willingly opening the door of his residence to accommodate the lawmen and raising his hands to show submission. However the police have stated that Farquharson pulled a firearm when he was escorted back to his bedroom after the house was cleared. They alleged that he reached for a firearm hidden among clothing. Two officers responded and fired two rounds each in the direction of Farquharson, fatally wounding him. It is alleged that a a .38 revolver was said to have been recovered. However, no video footage of the alleged confrontation between the police and Farquharson have surfaced.
According to Campbell, the police account is that Farquharson answered the door, allowed officers inside, and was escorted back to his bedroom after the house was cleared. Investigations by The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) also revealed that Jamar Farquharson’s name was not on the search warrant. INDECOM’S Deputy Commissioner Hamish Campbell stated that all police operations this year were without body cameras and this is a call for concern among Jamaican residents due to a 73 per cent increase over the similar period last year. The officers involved in the fatal shooting have since been removed from front line duty as investigation continues.
