Nearly three years after 45-year-old Mannie James was killed by gunfire during a joint police and Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force pursuit in Gray’s Farm, the grieving father’s family is once again pushing for transparent answers and formal accountability for his death.
James, a resident of Bendals and father to two young children, lost his life in August 2021 following the law enforcement operation. Official police accounts state that officers moved to intercept a vehicle carrying three individuals flagged as suspicious, but the driver attempted to escape. Law enforcement claims that shots were first fired at responding officers, who then returned fire. According to police statements, James abandoned the vehicle and fled the area, before he was eventually located with an apparent gunshot wound.
The official narrative has been directly contested by eyewitnesses, however. Witnesses allege that James was unarmed when he was shot in the back while running from authorities. Disturbingly, reports confirm that James’ two children – who were just six and eight years old at the time of the incident – were among the witnesses to the fatal shooting.
Three years on, James’ family says they have yet to receive a clear, satisfactory explanation of the events that led to his death, nor have they been informed if the official investigation into the killing has reached any conclusion. The family has laid out a series of specific demands for national authorities, including clarification on whether any involved police or Defence Force personnel have faced disciplinary measures or criminal charges, whether the case was referred to public prosecutors, and whether the full findings of the investigation will be released publicly.
Beyond calls for accountability, the family is also pushing for clarity on potential compensation for James’ two children, who lost their father and primary breadwinner three years ago. The children have relied on extended family support for financial and emotional care in the years since his death.
The family has addressed their formal request for updates directly to the Antigua and Barbuda Police Commissioner, leadership of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the national government. For James’ relatives, the passage of nearly three years has not softened their demand for answers. They emphasize that James’ children continue to grapple with the trauma and upheaval of losing their father, and they are owed full transparency about the circumstances of his death.