Mannie James
Almost three years after Mannie James was fatally shot during a pursuit involving police and Defence Force personnel, his family says it is still waiting for answers, accountability and justice.
James, a 45-year-old father of two from Bendals, was killed in Gray’s Farm in August 2023 following what police described as a stop-and-search operation that developed into a chase.
Eyewitnesses alleged at the time that James appeared to be unarmed and was shot in the back while running from pursuing officers. His two children, then aged six and eight, were reportedly among several residents who witnessed the traumatic incident.
His death sparked outrage in the community, where residents described him as a quiet and hardworking man who worked seven days a week selling jet-ski tours at Jolly Beach to support his partner and children.
Nearly three years later, the family says it has received no satisfactory explanation about what happened that night or the status of the investigation.
They are now asking a series of urgent questions: Was the investigation ever completed?
Were any of the officers involved disciplined or charged? Are the police and Defence Force personnel who pursued James still on active duty? Was the matter referred to prosecutors, and will the findings ever be made public?
The family also wants to know whether the State intends to compensate James’ children and other relatives for the loss they have suffered.
James left behind a young son and daughter who have since been supported by relatives. His family says they have had to cope not only with the emotional trauma of losing their father but also with the financial hardship caused by the death of the household’s primary provider.
Videos circulated shortly after the shooting showed uniformed officers pursuing a man through the community. Other footage appeared to show James lying unresponsive on the ground before he was placed in the open bed of a police pickup.
Witnesses alleged that he was treated without dignity after being shot, prompting further public concern about the conduct of the security personnel involved.
At the time, police said officers had attempted to stop a vehicle occupied by three people who were allegedly “acting suspiciously”. Police claimed the driver sped away and that shots were fired at officers during the pursuit, causing them to return fire.
The two passengers reportedly escaped on foot, while James continued driving before abandoning the Suzuki Vitara in Gray’s Farm and running.
Police subsequently said he was apprehended with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. The force expressed sympathy to his family and said it would investigate the incident.
However, James’ relatives say the passage of almost three years without a clear public outcome has deepened their pain and caused them to question whether anyone will ever be held accountable.
For the family, this is not simply an old case to be forgotten. Two children have been forced to grow up without their father, while relatives continue carrying the responsibility of providing for them.
They are calling on the Police Commissioner, the leadership of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the government to disclose the present status of the investigation.
The family insists that the public deserves to know precisely what happened, whether the use of deadly force was justified and what action, if any, was taken against those involved.
Almost three years later, their central question remains unanswered: Who will deliver justice for Mannie James?
Hmmmm this has to be discouraging for people who have lost loved ones mure recently