Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
BROWN'S TOWN, St. Ann:
CHAOS REIGNED in Brown's Town, St. Ann, last night as angry residents staged a massive protest against the shooting of a man by the police.
At least one policeman was injured by stones being thrown by protesters, a garbage compactor truck belonging to the NSWMA was destroyed by fire, and businesses in the area were forced to close their doors early as the angry residents denounced what they claimed was police brutality.
Twenty-year-old Leo Barnett was shot by a policeman from the Brown's Town Police Station while he and his colleagues were reportedly trying to arrest Barnett for possession of a knife and a ganja spliff.
Up to 8:00 last night, Barnett was said to be in hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The incident, which took place about 4:30 p.m., angered residents of the area who only last Wednesday staged a protest over the fatal shooting of 28-year-old taxi operator Junior Johnson. Johnson was shot by a police constable with whom he shared an apartment in Brown's Town.
Yesterday evening the residents took to the streets in droves, after learning about the shooting. They blocked the Brown's Town main road at several points stretching for over a mile and causing serious disruptions in the flow of traffic.
Stalls were taken out of the nearby Brown's Town market and set alight in the road, along with the garbage compactor.
A team of firemen responded to the blaze in a fire unit but had to beat a hasty retreat after coming under attack from the residents.
Some minutes later Ernest Smith, Member of Parliament for South West St. Ann, who lives in Brown's Town, arrived on the scene and tried to calm the protesters. He, however, found it difficult to contain their anger as many shouted for revenge.
As the crowd continued to build, some began to advance towards, and threatened to attack the police station, and policemen had to fire a barrage of gunshots wildly in the air. Tear gas was also fired into the crowd.
Reports on the incident that sparked the protests are that at about 4:30 p.m., the police were on patrol along main street when they spotted Barnett with a knife and ganja spliff. In their efforts to accost him, it was reported that an argument developed between Barnett and the policemen, one of whom shot him.
