Police have concluded their investigation into the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Kahleel Simon, with the matter set to move into its next phase, according to Antigua.news. Authorities, however, have offered little clarity on what that next phase will entail.
The update was delivered during a media briefing on Tuesday at Police Headquarters. Head of the Criminal Investigations Department Lisborn Michael confirmed the development but provided no further detail on the process ahead.
"The investigation into that matter is now completed, and that matter will be submitted to the coroner very soon," Michael stated.
Simon was shot and killed by police on his 18th birthday last year — an incident that has since ignited sustained public outrage and repeated calls for accountability. As reported by Antigua.news, the officer who fired the fatal shot has not been placed off duty, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from Simon's family.
Since the teenager's death, more than five public protests have been staged by family members, supporters, and community residents demanding transparency and justice.
The family, joined by St. Mary's South MP Kelvin "Shugy" Simon, continues to press authorities for answers. Several critical questions remain unresolved: whether Kahleel Simon was armed, whether he posed a threat to the officers involved, and whether the officer's life was in danger at the moment the shot was fired.
Relatives have also raised concerns about police conduct in the lead-up to the incident, alleging that officers had been following Simon from St. John's prior to the confrontation. They question why authorities did not intervene earlier if they genuinely believed he posed a threat.
Loved ones described Kahleel as a young man "just beginning to discover life and his purpose" — someone full of promise and youthful optimism. His family believes his life was "tragically and maliciously taken by those sworn to protect him."
The family has also challenged the use of deadly force, questioning why officers allegedly fired at what they described as "neck height" rather than employing non-lethal methods to stop the vehicle.
Beyond the immediate circumstances of the shooting, the family is calling for broader institutional reforms within the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, citing deeper concerns about accountability and oversight.
They have vowed to continue their public demonstrations until they receive what they describe as justice and full disclosure of the facts surrounding Kahleel Simon's death.
