Hanover Residents Demand Justice After Police-Involved Fatalities

Hanover was tense on Monday as Johnson Town residents protested along the Montego Bay-Negril highway, blocking the Riley Bridge entrance to Lucea. The protest was a response to the deaths of Jason “Biggs” Brown, 21, and Nicholas “Nico” Campbell, 29, following a police-involved shooting last Wednesday.

According to the police, a team from the Area One Fugitive Apprehension Team (AFAT) stopped a vehicle with four occupants along Mosquito Cove. The passengers reportedly exited and began firing, resulting in a gunfight where Brown, Campbell, and Clive “Greedy” Lawrence, allegedly the leader of the Katon Lane Defense Force, were killed.

However, local residents dispute this account, asserting that Brown and Campbell were innocent and did not engage in violence. One resident commented that while Lawrence may have had a violent background, Brown and Campbell were not gunmen. The community has also raised concerns over accountability, questioning whether the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) effectively monitors such incidents. The residents have urged for more transparency and oversight, calling on authorities to ensure the protection of civilians’ rights.