A grade three student of Meadowbrook Preparatory School in St Andrew escaped death on Tuesday afternoon when gunmen attacked and killed her stepfather who was on his motorcycle at the school gate.

Sources said the traumatised child quickly jumped from the motorcycle and ran back to the school’s compound as the gunmen attacked.

The victim, who was not yet identified, is believed to be from Cassava Piece in St Andrew, according to a man who said he was familiar with him.

“He was waiting a long time on the little girl and by the time she went on the bike and it was moving off, we just saw her running back,” said the man.

The incident occurred around 3:30 pm and parents were contacted to pick up their children as soon as possible.

The Jamaica Observer understands that frightened children who were playing in the school yard scampered for cover in classrooms and other areas of the compound as gunshots rang out.

When the Observer arrived at the school police detectives were busy processing the scene, while a handful of parents were seen trickling in to collect their children.

One parent said he was extremely upset by how violent Jamaica has become as no one can predict where the next murder will take place. “Every day you have to wonder when it is coming your way and to your door,” he lamented.

The mother of one student also expressed shock as Tuesday’s shooting outside the school. “This is really bad. At the school? That is really dangerous,” she said.

Her son said that he was playing on the compound when he suddenly heard what sounded like a motorcycle backfiring.

“We thought it was bike backfiring, then we realised it was gunmen. They fired around three to four shots at the man on the bike. He had his stepdaughter on it and she jumped off.”

Pain could be seen in the face of one mother when she stated that, “Nowhere is safe again.”

One woman, however, was glad that her son did not witness the incident.

In the meantime, a staff member at Meadowbrook Prep said plans are in place to have professionals come in and offer counselling to the children and others who were affected mentally by the brazen attack.

“I am traumatised. The child [who was] on the bike is also traumatised,” said the staff member. “It is her stepfather [who] always comes to pick her up. The shooter was in a car first and then they came out.”

Another family member later picked up the little girl who was on the motorcycle.

In the meantime, the staff member said some children said they don’t want to come back to school.