IT has been more than three years since 14-year-old Naomi Nelson was shot dead in a confrontation between police and alleged gunmen at Big Yard, Carenage on May 3, 2019.
However, her parents say they are nowhere close to getting justice for their daughter’s death.
Naomi was on her way to purchase food when the incident happened. Two men – Kareem “Baldwin” Roberts, 27, and Keron “Frosty” Eve, 30, were also shot dead. Police claimed responsibility for Roberts and Eve.
But they said Nelson was killed by bullets fired by either the two men or from those affiliated with them.
Nelson’s parents suspect otherwise, but all they do now is wait, pray, cry and hope for justice as they remember the child they lost.
Her father David Nelson said, since the incident he has been placed on anti-depressants and takes other medication for insomnia. With three other children to care for, including an autistic son, he is now dependent on a monthly social welfare grant of $1500 to survive.
Both police and the Police Complaints Authority are investigating Naomi's death.
Newsday sought an update on the police’s investigation last week but was not given one up to press time.
[caption id="attachment_972063" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SEEKING CLOSURE: Natasha Nelson, mother of Naomi Nelson, at her Mt Lambert home on Sunday. - AYANNA KINSALE[/caption]
Asked if he believes he will ever get justice, or at the very least some answers as to who killed his first-born, David said he was hoping for the best, but doubtful.
“Right now I under medication – serious, serious medication from that day. I can’t work, and money is not what I am accustomed to, but I am still thankful.
“So I can’t really try to keep up because I already know is failure. They should hurry up and get this thing over with because I real uncomfortable right now,” David said as he struggled to keep himself from crying.
He, like Naomi’s mother Natasha Nelson, said police could have identified themselves to avoid unnecessary confrontation.
Police said they went to the area in an unmarked car, were fired upon and had to return fire resulting in the deaths of the two men and injuries to others, some of whom are charged with shooting at the police. One officer was grazed in the shooting.
Last Tuesday, a similar incident happened at Beetham Gardens where a man was killed after police entered the community in an unmarked vehicle and claimed they were shot at and returned fire. In that incident Richard “Snake” Marcelle was killed. His relatives are claiming there was no shootout. They only knew it was police after his body was picked up and taken to hospital.
At a media conference last Thursday, acting DCP Wendell Williams said police officers on certain operations will be chaperoned by officers in the traditional blue and grey uniforms. Officers were also ordered to stop wearing balaclavas (a face covering resembling a ski mask), especially when wearing tactical uniforms.
The order came as there were increasing reports of men dressed in clothing resem
