Little London residents and police at odds over claim teenage boys killed during police chase

Angry residents of Little London, Westmoreland, this morning intensified their protest over the deaths of two teenage boys they say were killed during a police chase on Friday night, a claim the police have denied.

The protesters used downed trees, old appliances, tyres and other debris to block the road close to the Little London Police Station. The police have since cleared the blockade and are maintaining their presence in the area.

The residents say 14-year-old Tyreke Smith and 19-year-old Javian Black, both of Little London addresses, were killed after they were chased by a police service vehicle.

The Gleaner was told that the police chase ensued after the teenage boys were riding their motorbikes to a shop and refused to obey a request from the police to stop.

The residents further claim that the motorcycle was hit from behind with the police service vehicle.

The teenagers were taken to the Savanna-La-Mar Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

However, a police officer from the Westmoreland Police Division, who is close to the investigation but not authorised to speak to the media, told The Gleaner this morning that there was no police chase.

The police officer said the police vehicle assigned to the Little London Police Station, which is alleged to have been involved in the chase, had not left the compound up to the time of the incident. 

He said the teenagers were involved in an accident and the police were quick on the scene and took them to the hospital. 

- Albert Ferguson 

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