The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has launched a probe into a gun battle at a nightclub between a policeman and a Jamaica Defence Force private, which left the soldier dead.

The dead man has been identified as 27-year-old Davian Atkinson of a Young Street, Spanish Town, St Catherine, address.

The police reportedly resp-onded to the incident shortly before 6 a.m. yesterday.

According to INDECOM, the owner of the establishment, who is a policeman, locked up the establishment and took some employees home about 4:30 a.m.

Upon returning to the strip joint, the policeman saw a rope hanging from the window.

"He was greeted with gunfire by three men. He returned the fire and when the proverbial smoke was cleared, he discovered one of the men shot and injured," said INDECOM's senior public relations officer, Kahmille Reid.

The injured private was later pronounced dead at hospital.

A firearm allegedly belonging to the soldier was recovered.

Forensics

The senior public relations officer said the scene and body of the deceased was processed and interviews were conducted.

Both weapons recovered in the shooting were taken to the forensics lab for analysis.