The Jamaica Constabulary Force says the death of 4 year old Romaine Bowman is not being treated as a police fatal shooting but is the subject of a homicide investigation.

The child was one of 3 persons killed in the New Year’s Day incident in Granville, St. James.

On Tuesday, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) listed the child as being among deceased persons in a triple fatal shooting incident.

Today, the JCF said this is not supported by facts.

The police said it wanted to place on record, clearly and unequivocally, that the inclusion of four-year-old Romaine Bowman as a victim of a police shooting is inaccurate and unsupported by the facts presently before investigators.

The JCF said at this time, the death of the child in Granville, St. James is not being treated as a police fatal shooting.

It said the matter is the subject of a homicide investigation, which is aimed at determining conclusively the source of the fatal injury and the weapon involved.

It said no determination has been made that the child was killed by a police officer’s weapon, and no such conclusion has been advanced by the police, residents of the community, or any other credible source.

The JCF said more importantly, in the immediate aftermath of this deeply tragic incident, the child’s mother, despite her grief, publicly commended members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force who were involved in the operation, citing their professionalism and their efforts to save her child’s life.

It said this context was entirely absent from the report.

The JCF expressed concern about the media reports on an assertion that is demonstrably unproven and contrary to the current status of the investigation.

It said reporting of this nature risks misleading the public, prejudicing ongoing enquiries, and unfairly attributing responsibility in circumstances where the facts have not been established.

The JCF added that beyond the immediate inaccuracy, there is a broader concern, as false or premature attribution of responsibility to the police undermines public trust and erodes the relationships that have been carefully built between the JCF and communities across Jamaica, relationships that are central to recent gains in violence reduction and community safety.

It said once such narratives take hold, the reality is that many members of the public will never see a correction or retraction, even where one is warranted.

The JCF reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law.

It said where police actions result in loss of life, those matters are rigorously investigated and subjected to the appropriate oversight mechanisms.

The JCF noted that it has a duty to challenge inaccuracies that damage its integrity and, by extension, undermine the collective effort to make Jamaica a safer and more peaceful society.

It is urging media practitioners to exercise the highest standards of accuracy, balance, and verification, particularly in matters involving loss of life, minors, and ongoing investigations.