Jamaican police have shot and killed five men during an operation in St. Andrew parish, as the force faces growing criticism for a sharp rise in fatal shootings. The parish includes the capital, Kingston. Police said in a statement on Monday that the men were suspected of planning a murder and that officers came under heavy gunfire when they arrived at the location. “Officers came under heavy gunfire and responded to the threat to their lives,” the police statement said. No officers were injured. A sixth suspect, known by the nickname “Bloodstain”, escaped and is still being sought by authorities. The killings have been reported to Jamaica’s Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), a state body that looks into complaints against police, military, and corrections officers. According to the Associated Press, Jamaican police have often faced accusations of using excessive force and carrying out unlawful killings. Last week, INDECOM expressed concern over the rising number of deadly police encounters, especially during planned operations. It also criticised the ongoing failure to use body-worn cameras. “So far this year, Jamaican security forces have fatally shot 177 people,” the commission said, as reported by AP. That number is more than double the 80 fatal shootings recorded during the same period last year a 121% increase. From July 2024 to July 2025, the total number of people killed by security forces reached 288, according to the commission. It added that none of the incidents involved the use of body cameras. “A recurring theme in the shooting incidents show that weapons are alleged to have been pointed at officers,” INDECOM said. “But in the absence of third-party eyewitnesses or video evidence, investigators are unable to verify or justify the use of lethal force.” The commission has called for more accountability and the routine use of body cameras during police operations.
