Update | Portland man wanted in alleged rape of CASE student killed in police confrontation

A 38-year-old man, wanted in connection with the alleged rape of a student at the College of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE) earlier this month, was shot dead in a reported police confrontation in Portland on Tuesday.

The Independent Commission of Investigations has launched a probe into the incident, which took place in Norwich district, eastern Portland.

Humes, who had been under police surveillance for nearly four years, was also wanted in connection with two alleged rapes involving female students from the College of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE) in Passley Gardens. Those incidents occurred in 2021 and 2022.

Superintendent Ainsley McCarthy, Commanding Officer for the Portland police division, said officers acting on intelligence visited Humes’ residence at Ranch Hill around 7:30 a.m. in search of the suspect, who was wanted for allegedly raping a CASE student on December 14.

“They approached a house occupied by the suspect. On entering the yard, they were attacked by the suspect with a machete,” McCarthy explained. “The police fired to warn the suspect. He did not drop the machete and kept advancing and was shot. He was rushed to the Port Antonio Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”

McCarthy noted that Humes had previous involvement in alleged rape cases at CASE. In 2021, he was arrested for a rape on the campus and sent for psychiatric evaluation. In 2022, he was again charged with a second rape, but the complainant later migrated overseas, leading to dismissal of the case.

“Portland has seen an increase in rape since the start of the year. We suspect that this man was involved in more than one case of rape during this period,” McCarthy said.

The December 14 incident, in which a female CASE student was allegedly assaulted after exiting a taxi on the West Campus, prompted a student protest demanding stronger measures to safeguard their safety on campus.

- Gareth Davis Snr

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