Two brothers killed in Spanish Town police shooting
… Family disputes official report
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:38 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
The police are reporting that one of the two brothers shot and killed by security forces on Thursday night along the Spanish Town bypass near Okra Lane was allegedly linked to the Okra Lane Gang, a faction of the notorious Clansman Gang.
Everton Spike, 44, and his younger brother Jason Spike were reportedly confronted by officers and fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire. However, residents on Friday blocked a section of the Spanish Town bypass in protest, claiming the men were murdered.
The St Catherine North police stated that a submachine gun, a .38 revolver, six 9mm rounds, and a .38 cartridge were retrieved from the scene. They also noted that Jason Spike had previously been detained under the anti-gang legislation but was later released.
Their deaths bring the total number of police-related killings in Spanish Town and Linstead to five within a week.
Wayne Spike, the eldest sibling, who claims he witnessed the incident, strongly disputes the police’s version of events.
“Mi see one jeep come down fast and then another one. Dem come out of the vehicle; I don’t know what they said to my brothers, but mi hear bare gunshots. I said, ‘Police, why you kill mi brother?’ and dem sey, ‘Bwoy, go back in the lane’, and then a bare gunshot dem a fire, so mi run,” Wayne recounted. He insisted his brothers were innocent.
“Everton Spike was a carpenter, and Jason Spike used to work as a security guard before taking on construction work. Dem name did a call, but dem never do nothing,” he said.
Wayne added that Jason had previously been detained as a person of interest but was released after being processed.
“After him release, mi tell him stay ina him yard because the police dem a trouble him. Him lock up ina him house with his girlfriend for the whole day. So how come mi two brother dead last night?” he questioned.
‘BROKEN AND CONFUSED’
Jason’s girlfriend also expressed disbelief and sorrow over the killing.
“I am broken. I am confused. The police came here three months ago and said dem name ‘special force’. Dem put out him name as a person of interest Sunday evening, and him go in. When him reach the station, the police say, ‘Jason, who put out you name? Go home’.”
She claimed that Jason voluntarily returned to the station on Monday and was processed multiple times before being released.
Younger sibling Shermaine Spike described the situation as traumatising, stating that when he attempted to approach the scene, he was pepper-sprayed by officers and told to go back into the lane.
The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has launched an investigation into the fatal shooting. INDECOM noted that there have been 35 police-related killings since the start of the year, with seven occurring this month alone. This compares to nine fatal police shootings in February 2024.
Sections of De La Vega City, Port Henderson (Okro Lane) and Dallas Lane in Spanish Town are now under a 48-hour curfew, which took effect yesterday at 6:00 p.m. and will remain in effect until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.