Rio Claro residents vow to get answers

The angry residents started their protest on Monday along the Guaracara Tabaquite Main Road and say they will continue to protest until they get some answers into why Ashby was killed.

Ashby, 52, was shot, allegedly by police on Friday night about a quarter mile away from his home at San Pedro, Poole Village.

Police reports stated that officers of the Rio Claro Police Station were on the lookout for a white car, which was involved in a robbery, and they intercepted Ashby’s car.

Police claimed there was an armed man in Ashby’s car, who managed to escape but not before leaving behind a shotgun and cartridge.

Police said that Ashby was shot when he attempted to reverse his car to avoid the officers.

Ashby’s older sister Merlene said the family was still shocked by the incident since her brother, a father of four and a grandfather of one, had never been involved in any criminal activity.

They have denied the police’s version of the events which led to Ashby’s death.

Ashby said the family had always been a disciplined one and that her brother had no criminal record.

“Ozzie was on his way home from an after work lime when they killed him,” she said.

Close family friend Elias Lewis told Newsday they intend to clear Ashby’s name. “Police must admit that they made a mistake when they stopped his car and fired on him. Why do they want to make a dead man a criminal. He was never one. Don’t drag his name through the mud now that he is dead, clear it instead,” he said.

An autopsy performed by pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes revealed that Ashby died as a result of gun-shot wounds to the chest.

Investigations are continuing.