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Compol Says Corporal Who Pulled Trigger on Aly Major Will Have to Face Consequences
posted (July 18, 2019)
And while the COMPOL is holding a very hardline on gangs, he started out the press briefing on a far more conciliatory note. He spoke about the Allyson Major Jr shooting.

As has been widely reported, the 36 year old was shot in the head by police as he tried to escape a pursing patrol. The police shot him in the head as he tried to race over the swing bridge. Major died the following day from his injuries.

Today the commissioner expressed condolences and gave his assurance that the investigation will be thorough and transparent:

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I want to express my condolences on behalf of the entire police department and at the same time assure the family of Mr. Major that we will be doing all that needs to be done to ensure that the officer who fire the fatal shot is held accountable for his action."

"I have put together an investigative team. That team is headed by Senior Superintendent of Police Ms. Suzette Anderson. The team also has members of the ombudsman's office. I spoke with the ombudsman this morning and he appointed a person from his office in the person of Ms. Winnie Parchue. So she's a part of the team as well and I also spoke to Mr. Westby and he appointed Mr. Martin Griffith as a representative of the independent complaints committee and so the two civilians who are a part of the investigative team will work very closely with Ms. Anderson to ensure that there is no cover up. We are still awaiting the ballistic results. We have sent the expended shells that were recovered from the scene and during the post-mortem today I was briefed that a slug was removed from the brain of Mr. Major. That slug will be sent to the lab tomorrow morning as well and with the expended shell as well as the slug, it will tell us which officer fired the fatal shot and so as soon as we have obtained those information, the file will be sent to DPP and she will provide guidance to us as to what charge or charges ought to be levied on the officer who is held to be the one who fired the fatal shot."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"From the briefing you have received, did these officers act wrongly, incorrectly perhaps, even illegally when they shot a man in hot pursuit on the foot of the Swing Bridge?"

Chester Williams
"The truth is from what I have seen excessive force was used. We cannot run away from that. When we are in pursuit of any vehicle or persons, we must ensure that the force used is proportionate to whatever threat that is being faced. From what I have been briefed there was nothing to indicate Mr. Major poses any threat to the officers who were in pursuit. Yes, based on the officers account they observed Mr. Major receiving a package, based on what they are saying, from a house on George Street and it was that transaction that they saw that drew their attention to Mr. Major and it was there where the pursuit began. And even though they may have seen Mr. Major receiving a package, that will stills not justify them using lethal force."

"Now I am not saying that it was the intent of the officers to use lethal force, but that was the end results and so we have to ensure that the proper thing is done - investigation and the officers who fired that fatal shot be held accountable. From what we are gathering so far it was the corporal who fired the shots and that will be ascertain as soon as we obtain the result of the ballistic examination tomorrow. But again, the corporal has admitted to firing 2 shots and so we continue to look at that."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"So would you accept that there also has to be critical lapse either of judgement or in training if an officer, an officer of rank then, not a constable, not a recruit would make such a severe error in judgement opening fire on a vehicle that throw way 4 ounce of weed?"

Chester Williams
"That is true, but again, sometimes from the outside looking in, we might see things differently from someone who would be in a particular position at a particular time. Like I said I do not believe that the officer intentionally shot Mr. Major. It is a sad situation and I know that the officer is hurt himself and his family. They too are going through their own issues right now, but it has occurred and he will have to face the consequence of that action."

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