The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) says it has launched a probe into the shooting death of a civilian yesterday, September 23 on Victoria Street in Kingston.

The deceased man, identified as Kemar Brown, was shot by the police about 10:30 a.m.

Reports by the police are that Brown was shot after he allegedly opened fire on officers who were in the process of searching a house on Victoria Street. The police also reported that a 9mm pistol was recovered.

According to INDECOM, this incident brings the number of security force-related fatalities since the start of the year to 172. At the end of September in 2012, security force-related fatalities totalled 158.

INDECOM says it has launched investigations into the deaths of 14 civilians since the start of September. Of the 14 incidents, five occurred in St Catherine while the other incidents occurred in the parishes of Kingston, St. James, St Mary, Hanover, Manchester, Clarendon, and Westmoreland.