Joel McFarland who was shot dead by police on Friday
March 16, 2025
Man killed in alleged shootout with police was mentally challenged say angry residents
ST ANDREW, Jamaica — Residents of Galloway Road, Kingston 13 have charged that there is no truth to police reports of a shootout that left a 33-year-old man from their community dead Friday night, instead describing his killing as a murder.
Residents identified the deceased as Joel McFarland also called ‘Speedometer’. They said he was mentally challenged, a former resident of Bellevue Hospital.
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“One shot in his head, they mash up the little youth, innocently. The police say it’s a shootout but only three shots were fired. They say it’s a shootout and they find a gun, where?” questioned a female resident holding a bulging bag of what she said was McFarland’s medication as she stood just outside his door.
“Joel didn’t fire a shot. You can’t even go around Joel a certain way. He’s afraid of those things, he doesn’t like violence,” she said pointing to the spot where she cleaned his blood off of his doorstep after the incident.
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The residents claim that McFarland had just returned home from a set-up in a neighbouring community when officers knocked on his door and upon his exit shot him.
The residents described Joel as well taken care of by his family who would regularly buy him his groceries and new clothing, and said he was trusted around the community to purchase food for residents.
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A male resident who said he witnessed the event told Observer Online that the officers he saw were dressed in jeans and masks with no visible badges.
“I saw three of them going from yard to yard. So I went into my yard and stood underneath my mango tree, I heard three shots.”
Community residents were incensed by the killing and took to protesting on the weekend. The male resident said the shooting has damaged their relationship with the police.
“It’s going to bring a bad vibe with the police. We’re not going to respect them, we’re not going to rate them like how we used to see them and rate them you understand? Because that is an innocent man.”
READ Man shot dead during armed confrontation with police in Kingston 13
the home where McFarland lived and was shot dead by police according to residents
