Wanted man shot dead by police

Kelvin “Kelly” Harry was no saint.

His criminal record told the tale of a misguided young man who seemed unable to stay on the right side of the law.

His family, however, hopes that a genuine investigation is done into his shooting death at the hands of police on Saturday, May 30, at Sharpesdale.{{more}}

“I want to know why they had to shoot him. I am trying to figure out if they had to kill him,” declared Karen Leonard, Harry’s sister, who is based in Washington DC.

An upset Leonard told SEARCHLIGHT that she is concerned about recent news coming out of St Vincent and said she can’t help but wonder if her brother’s life wasn’t indiscriminately ended by trigger- happy police.

Kelly was wanted for the murderRoderick Stowe, who on Friday, April 25th 2008, was shot in his head following an altercation with another man, who police believe to be Harry.

Police were aggressively seeking Harry, 29, who has nine previous convictions for offences including wounding and assault, actual bodily harm and drug possession, but he went into hiding.

According to a police release, “The police secured themselves in waiting” at Sharpesdale, where Harry, of Southwood, was said to be hiding out.

At around 11:07 p.m., according to the release, Harry approached the house, and police identified themselves to him and informed him why they were there.

“Harry rushed towards a police officer with a cutlass he was carrying. He was ordered to drop the cutlass but continued to advance towards the officer,” the police release states.

He was shot and taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, where he died, the release also states.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that Harry was shot once in the area of his hip.

But Leonard has serious doubts about this story. “That’s bulls***. Kelly is not a dumb ass that will rush a police officer with a cutlass when he is out numbered!”

SEARCHLIGHT, however, understands that Harry had told several people over the last year that he was determined not to go back to prison.

Leonard also told SEARCHLIGHT that her brother, who she swears didn’t lie to her, admitted killing Stowe last year, but said he did it in self-defense.

Leonard said that he told her that Stowe was armed, and was attacking him; that is when he shot him.

“But he didn’t think he could get a fair shake. That’s why he went on the run,” she said.

Harry’s father Obediah is also concerned about the situation surrounding his son’s death.

“I don’t know what to say. He was wanted, but I don’t know what is the truth, if they (the police) just killed him.”

The elder Harry told SEARCHLIGHT that his son was a troubled soul, because many times he and others would speak to him about his lifestyle, but he would listen and go back into the same negative ways.

He told SEARCHLIGHT that his loss presents a perfect opportunity for him to warn young men especially to “take heed what your parents say,” insisting that he and other family members “tried real hard” with Kelvin.