By: Adrian Fraser – Freelance Reporter
“We never know him as no gunman.”
That’s the word from some residents of Annotto Bay, St Mary as news surfaced that 42-year-old Marlon Bell was fatally shot by the police during an alleged confrontation on Wednesday.
The incident reportedly occurred early Wednesday morning in an area of the small St Mary town known as Crab Hall.
The Independent Commission of Investigations’ (INDECOM’s) South Eastern Regional Office, reported that the police recovered an illegal firearm following the incident.
According to INDECOM, the police reported that “three officers, acting on information, went to a premises where an exchange of gunfire ensued, and a man was subsequently seen with gunshot injuries.”
Bell was assisted to the Annotto Bay Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police sources told Jam Street Journal that intelligence suggested that Bell may have been involved in the murder of Victor Brown, alias ‘Papa San’, a fruit vendor who was gunned down on Main Street in Annotto Bay on Wednesday night, June 1.
Another man who was standing nearby Brown’s stall, was also shot and injured during that attack.
Two residents told Jam Street Journal that they had no knowledge of Bell’s involvement in any criminal activities.
“A news that to me just a surface yesterday (Wednesday), and mi still don’t believe that,” said one man, who only identified himself as Jeff.
“We never know him as no gunman!” he claimed.
“Marlon run him likkle joke and smoke and dem way deh, but fi dem say him a pull gun and a shoot police, no sah, me need more evidence to believe that one,” he added.
Another resident of the area – a woman who asked not to be identified – said she last saw Bell on Monday, and he was in a jovial mode.
“I live right in Annotto Bay how much years, and a first me hear gun a call pon Marlon name. Him always around the town, so if him did in a badness police know where to find him,” she claimed.
Annotto Bay has been the scene of several murders in St Mary this year.
Police statistics, up to June 12, revealed that 21 persons were killed in the usually quiet north east parish.
That’s a 200 per cent increase in killings, when compared to the seven recorded there last year.
