WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — The family of 16-year-old Carson Barrett is refuting claims made by the Westmoreland police that their relative could have been involved in criminal activity leading up to his untimely demise.

Instead, Barrett’s cousin and guardian on condition of anonymity, criticised the police’s handling of the surge in crime in the community. She expressed that when the police’s presence was deemed especially necessary following threats being allegedly aimed at the Grange Hill Primary and secondary level schools, law enforcers left the communities vulnerable.

“Good things come from the ghetto,” she lamented as she stressed that her cousin had great potential and was set to sit Social Studies in the upcoming Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).

In speaking with the Observer Online principal at the institution Trevine Donaldson-Lawrence said Barrett was a top student.

She says the incident has left the institution in mourning.

“[It was] traumatic. After the events that took place at about 5:00 pm, but leading up to that point it was a good day. It was an excellent day to be exact,” a distraught Donaldson-Lawrence told Observer Online, Friday morning.

READ: Grange Hill High mourns death of 16-y-o killed in alleged gang attack

Meanwhile, Commanding officer for Westmoreland Superintendent Othniel Dobson told Observer Online late Friday that the investigation is yielding fruits.

“The investigation has advanced and is showing that the student was out of school for some time due to an unreported threat,” Dobson revealed. He said Barrett was only present at the institution for the sports day.

The top cop also revealed that the teen’s bag was missing from the scene of crime. His family also confirmed that his school bag was not one of the items recovered.

As the investigations continue, the police are urging citizens to cooperate and to provide them with any information on the incident they may have.