SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — The Westmoreland police have charged a 17-year-old Grange Hill High School student in connection with the recent stabbing death of 44-year-old security guard Clifton Lumley, who was attacked while on duty at the institution.

The accused juvenile is scheduled to appear in the Westmoreland Family Court tomorrow.

Commander of the Westmoreland Police Division Superintendent Gary McKenzie revealed that two other individuals are also being sought for questioning in connection with Lumley’s murder.

The well-respected security guard was stabbed on the school’s compound on Friday, March 29.

Reports are that around 2:45 pm, two young men attacked the security guard at his post near the entrance to the school. It’s understood that one of the men used a stick to beat Lumley, and while he struggled to hold unto the stick, he was stabbed by the other young man, resulting in the puncture of one of his lungs.

The security guard, who celebrated his birthday two weeks before the tragic incident, was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery. He died the following day.

The Jamaica Observer was reliably informed that the student who was allegedly involved in the incident had been suspended from school.

It is not clear what sparked the incident, but the Observer was told that sometime before the attack, the accused men were seen on the school’s compound and the police were called.

“The fact that they [accused attackers] were on the compound, they [police] came, and they [accused men] went off the compound. But not long after the police left, they came back,” Errol Stewart, principal of Grange Hill High School, disclosed.

He said the guard, who was employed to Alpha Security Company, had been based at the institution for the last five years.

According to police statistics, between January 1 and April 6 this year, Westmoreland recorded 35 murders, which is five less than the 40 reported over the same period last year.

— Horace Hines