The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net THE family of the 25-year-old man shot and killed by a policeman in Crooked Island said yesterday they believe the shooting was "unintentional". Police have remained tight lipped, releasing few details about the Cabbage Hill incident. An official police report only said the shooting occurred around 9.25pm at Sea View Beach, Crooked Island. When contacted, Supt Stephen Dean said police were still investigating and could not comment on something as sensitive as a policeman being involved in a shooting without having all the details. However, the family of the victim, who has been identified as Ezra Ferguson, said the officer used "extreme force" on an unarmed man, but did not intend to shoot him. In an exclusive interview with The Tribune, Jerald Cunningham, uncle of the deceased, said his nephew was killed in front of his mother while attempting to leave a cook-out Saturday night. "Ezra was in an altercation with some of his friends about an hour before he was killed. He took a bottle of liquor from a guy and they had an argument but they resolved it and Ezra gave the bottle back before the police came. "When the officer came, he ran after him. At that time, Ezra was already in the car with his mother. She was taking him home," he said. "The officer told him to get out of the car, when Ezra did the officer told him he was under arrest, pointed the gun at him and then it went off. He died right there in front of his mother. He did not have a weapon, he didn't fight back. "I honestly don't think he meant to do it, I think he was showing off and the gun accidentally went off but Ezra is dead and we have to now accept that." He said the family is not doing very well and have not come to terms with Ezra's death. "He was a very nice person. From the time he came back from Inagua, he never got into any problems with the police or anyone else. His parents are still in shock. I don't think they have realised what happened, they have not caught themselves yet." Police on the island refused to comment on the matter. However, Paul Rolle, head of the Central Detective Unit (CDU), said a team of officers from the capital are in Crooked Island assisting with the investigation. He said: "The matter is being investigated and forwarded to the Coroner's Court. I have no further comment. I do not know if the officer is still on active duty. I will not comment on this matter. We are investigating." Police are also investigating another police-involved shooting that left a man fighting for his life in hospital. According to police reports, the incident occurred around 2pm on Saturday at the Nassau Street Police Station. Police said the 25-year-old man was shot while attempting to evade arrest. The suspect was captured and taken to hospital where he is detained in critical condition. Active police investigations continue in both matters.