MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Gunmen chose the compound of an early childhood institution in St James to murder a father shortly after he dropped off his child in the full view of young students and other parents yesterday morning.

The deceased has been identified as 37-year-old higgler, Ricardo Forbes of a Mount Salem, St James address.

Following the brazen early morning attack classes were forced to be suspended at the Cornwall Gardens Basic School yesterday.

OBSERVER ONLINE observed several parents rushing in and out of the school premises with their children while the police marshalled the entrance to the school.

Reports are that Forbes had just dropped off his child and was about to drive away when he was pounced upon by a gunman ray fired shots, hitting him multiple times.

He died instantly.

The incident attracted a large gathering of curious onlookers along the roadway that runs pass the school.

Efforts to enter the school compound to speak to personnel were unsuccessful moments after the shooting.

Persons who gathered outside the school were tight lipped.

However, a woman was overheard bemoaning the continued killings in St James despite the heavy presence of the security forces with a state of emergency in the parish.

“These gunmen are so brazen. Even during the state of emergency, dem don’t stop the killings” she argued.

States of emergency have been declared in St James, Hanover and Westmoreland, since April 30.

Horace Hines