‘My brother is not stupid’

The family of a taxi operator, who was fatally shot by a policeman – his ex-girlfriend’s current partner – on Monday, is asking for a thorough probe into the circumstances of his death, dismissing accounts in the public domain as fabricated.

Stephon Powell, 29, met his demise inside the home of the common-law couple along Coleyville Avenue in Kingston 20.

Reports from the Duhaney Park police are that sometime after 9 p.m. on Monday, Powell allegedly gained entry through a window and proceeded to attack his ex-girlfriend with a knife.

The policeman, who was inside the house with the 21-year-old woman reportedly called him for assistance after Powell was heard banging on the front door to the two-bedroom concrete house.

The constable reportedly shot him repeatedly and he collapsed in a bathroom.

When the police were alerted, they found Powell in a pool of blood.

Powell’s sister, Alexandria, was rattled by the news, which turned her birthday into a day of mourning.

She is not convinced that Powell, with whom she maintained a close relationship until a disagreement a year ago, would try to challenge a policeman.

“We haven’t spoken to each other since [the disagreement], mainly because we are both stubborn, but he was an amazing person, loves to play and joke around,” she told The Gleaner. “He was my escape partner when I was in high school and wanted to go somewhere.”

Alexandria said that her brother would call her every year on her birthday.

“I mean every year. I didn’t hear from him this year, so I figured he was busy or he would’ve called today (yesterday),” she said.

Powell has three children, one of whom is reportedly celebrating a birthday today.

A female social media user, seemingly the mother of his child, openly questioned what she should tell their daughter, who has big plans to spend her birthday with her father.

“The story doesn’t add up. Someone is not telling the truth. My brother is not stupid to enter a house knowing a police is inside and might have a weapon,” Alexandria told The Gleaner.

She is asking the authorities to probe the matter objectively and noted that the family intends to keep fighting until justice is served.

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has commerced a probe into the incident.

In a statement on Tuesday, INDECOM said that during the initial scene response, the concerned officer had declined to provide an account to its investigators.

“The concerned officer was subsequently issued with a notice to provide a statement and attend the office of the commission to be interviewed, pursuant to Section 21 of the Independent Commission of Investigations Act, 2010,” the release said.

INDECOM said the enquiry will seek to ascertain the full circumstances resulting in the discharge of the officer’s firearm and the death of Powell.

The policeman’s firearm has been seized for testing.

Investigations are ongoing.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com