Family of man killed by police confused over circumstances

Antoinette Ellis, the mother of 18-year-old Jeremiah Ellis – one of two men killed during a police-involved shooting in Long Circular, St James early on Monday morning, said she is confused and heartbroken over the death of her son.

Police said members of the Western Division Task Force went to the younger Ellis' Tractor Hill home off Dibe Road to search the house at around 4 am when they were shot at by someone inside.

They shot back at the house and saw Ellis and another man identified as 21-year-old Shane Moses on the ground bleeding.

Police took them to the St James infirmary where they were declared dead on arrival.

A pistol and ammunition were allegedly seized at the scene.

At the Forensic Science Centre, St James, hours after her son was shot dead, the elder Ellis told Newsday she went to the centre out of confusion as she did not know where to go to view her son's body.

Ellis said she lived in El Socorro with one of her sons and worked in San Juan, when she got a call about the shooting.

"My other son called and told me that Jeremiah got shot and killed by police.

"I didn't know what to think. I just left work and went to the police station in St James, then they told me to go to the hospital infirmary but his body wasn't there and then my son advised me to come here.

"I want to see my son and I want to know what happened to him."

Ellis admitted her son sold marijuana and "could be miserable" but did not know him to own a gun or be involved in shootings.

"He doesn't own any gun. He couldn't even afford a pair of boxer shorts to cover his a--.

"Whatever fruits he found and picked he used to sell and that was really how he supported himself."

Ellis said she knew Moses was one of her son's friends, but did not know much about him and is calling for clarity in the circumstances behind their deaths.

Police said there have been 57 police killings for the year thus far.

West End police are continuing investigations.