COP meets with family of man killed by police 

Commissioner of Police Colin John, other members of the police high command, and Leading Seaman, Bishop Nolan James have met with the mother and aunt of Seage John, said to be in his early 20s, who was shot and killed by police on Jan. 1,  in Rose Place.

Police said in a Jan. 3 statement that a man shot at police officers during an operation in Rose Place. 

“The Police returned fire and the gunman was shot in the process. He was transported to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) for medical attention. He was later pronounced dead by the District Medical Officer (DMO),” police said in the statement, adding that the deceased man was later identified as John.

A woman, said to be John’s mother, declined to speak to iWitness News when we visited her home in Ottley Hall on Jan. 1.

One media outlet, citing an unnamed source, said that an autopsy concluded that John died of a broken neck and was shot once in the arm, but his family has declined to comment on this.  

The family has staged a protest in Kingstown seeking “justice” for John’s death but continues to decline speaking to the media.

In a statement on Friday, the Police Public Relations and Complaints Department said the meeting between the police and John’s mother took place at Police Headquarters. 

“During the meeting, the Commissioner extended condolences to Ms. Oniesa John and other family members on the death of her son,” the statement said.

It continued: 

“He gave an update on the status of the investigation process and informed the family that after the investigation is complete, a coroner’s inquest may be held to ascertain the circumstances surrounding John’s death.

“During the meeting, the John family raised several concerns about the incident. The commissioner assured the family that the matter would be thoroughly investigated. He also advised the family that if they so wish, they can seek independent legal advice in the matter. 

“In addition, the commissioner told the family that persons with information about the incident can go to the Police Public Relations and Complaints Department to volunteer their statements.

“Leading Seaman, Bishop Nolan James consoled the family and prayed with them. The John Family thanked the commissioner for the opportunity to vent their views and concerns about the matter.”

John had made national headlines on a number of occasions, having been charged with serious crimes, including attempted murder.

In December 2018, he was charged, along with Kareem Charles, then 27, and Shamol Richardson, then 18, both of Redemption Sharpes, that on Nov. 24, 2018, at Grenville Street, Kingstown, with intent to commit the offence of murder on Juwanni Roberts, 18, of Redemption Sharpes, they did an act which is more than merely preparatory to the commission of the offence.

They were also charged that on the same date and place, they had in their possession a .38 revolver, serial number D815995, without a licence issued under the Firearms Act.

They were also charged with possession of five rounds of ammunition without a licence.

The men were also charged that with intent to discharge a firearm within 100 yards of the public road, to wit, Grenville Street, Kingstown, they did an act which was more than merely preparatory to the commission of the offence.

In September 2018, John was charged along with Kimron “Fish” Peters, 25, of Biabou and South Rivers that on Sept. 8, 2018, at Kingstown, being armed with a gun, they robbed Euilton Wilson, a 45-year-old gardener, of Twenty Hill, of one black cellular phone with a Digicel SIM card, value EC$165 and EC$200 in cash, Wilson’s property, and at the time of the robbery and in order to do so, used force on Wilson.