WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – The mother of a teenager who was shot dead in Whithorn, Westmoreland in September, two weeks after his father and brother suffered the same fate and was later laid to rest, says she is in fear of her life and has had to flee her home.

Doreen Kerr- Gayle told OBSERVER ONLINE that she is unable to bury her son as she was also forced to leave behind her job as a domestic helper, adding that it’s no easy feat to find the necessary resources to bury three members of her family in a matter of weeks.

“To lose two and put dem down, [and ] mi come back and haffi restart again. Mi bury mi husband and son the 10th of September. It doh even run off two weeks good,” the distraught mother explained.

“I just put down mi husband and son and it very rough, there’s no funds. So, I’m asking Jamaica if they can help me bury this one,” she appealed.

Police reported that 19-year-old Delano Gayle, a construction worker, was killed and his grandfather injured when gunmen attacked them at their home on September 24. The grandfather, 84, was admitted to hospital, the report said.

Kerr-Gayle told OBSERVER ONLINE that she is of the belief that her family is “marked for death”.

She recounted the night when Delano was killed, stating that gunmen kicked open their home with firearms in hand.

“Dem put di gun pan mi and tek it off mi and put it on my grandchildren [ages two and six],” she recalled.

Kerr-Gayle’s husband was shot in December of last year, and later died in May.

Delano was a witness in his father’s murder and managed to survive two attacks on his life before he was killed. His brother, 23-year-old Derron Gayle was gunned down at a wake in June of this year, in clear view of his younger brother who said the incident left him ‘paranoid’ and ‘traumatised’.

Reports from the Whithorn police are that about 9:20 pm, Derron Gayle was among a group of people at a wake when he was pounced upon by a lone gunman who shot and killed him. The other individuals escaped unhurt.

Meanwhile, the grieving mother noted that her faith in God has allowed her to cope with her losses, and she is happy she gave her life to the Lord. Her only surviving son, Declan, has turned to music for therapy and her daughter has been left traumatised, she said.

“Only di mercy a God a keep mi, I break down at times. I put it to God. When I put it to God, I feel much better,” Kerr-Gayle shared.

Since the start of the year, 120 people have been murdered in Westmoreland. Kerr-Gayle believes increased security presence is needed in the western Jamaica parish to make it safer.

For people who wish to help donate to the burial of Kerr-Gayle’s son, the banking information is as follows:

Name: Doreen Kerr -Gayle.

Type of bank: National Commercial Bank

Branch: Savanna-la-Mar

Type of account: Savings

Account Number: 614733470