Riot Police Patrol Jamaican Resort Town
By VIVIAN TYSON

May 4, 2003

NEGRIL, Jamaica (AP) - Police in full riot gear patrolled the streets of a western resort town in Jamaica on Sunday, a day after a mob set fire to several buildings.

The crowd was angered by the death of a 14-year-old boy who was shot by a police officer responding to a fruit vendor's complaint of boys throwing rocks at his shop.

Police say the shooting was an accident but witnesses say it was deliberate and on Saturday about 300 people gathered in this town for a protest that quickly turned violent.

Demonstrators shattered windows at two banks, then threw firebombs through them. They also set fire to convenience stores, initially preventing firefighters from reaching the burning buildings.

No one was arrested but to prevent further violence, about 50 police officers in full riot gear patrolled the streets on Sunday. Police said the strong presence would last until at least Monday.

Some of Jamaica's premiere tourist resorts are in the area of Negril but they were not affected by the violence, officials said.

Human rights groups have criticized frequent killings by Jamaican police. Last year, 133 people were fatally shot by police, according to Amnesty International. Forty-four people have been fatally shot by police this year, authorities said.


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