7-y-o among eight dead in Clarendon killing spree
CLARENDON, Jamaica— A seven-year-old boy is among the eight people who were killed in separate gun attacks on Cherry Tree Lane, Four Paths in Clarendon on Sunday night.
It is reported that in the first attack residents were gathered at a car wash in the community around 8:45pm for a birthday celebration, when a white Axio motor car drove up and three men armed with guns alighted from the vehicle. The men opened gunfire at the group of people, who ran in different directions.
When the shooting subsided it was discovered that four people died on the spot, and three others were pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Police reported that the armed men drove from the car wash in the direction of the May Pen bypass, and on reaching a section of the roadway, while still in the Cherry Tree Lane community, stopped at another gathering. Two men reportedly exited the vehicle with hand guns, and opened fire at the group before escaping. One person was shot and killed.
The deceased have been identified as Kavel Daley, a 27-year-old cosmetologist; Lawrence Francis, a 50-year-old construction worker, Diamond Bennett, a 20-year-old cashier; Aiden Bartley, a seven-year-old student of Four Path Primary; Errol Stewart otherwise called Wagga, a 58-year-old butcher; Jermaine Boothe otherwise called Blacks; Courtney Messam otherwise called Dummbie and a woman identified only as Margaret.
Nine people were injured in the first gun attack, including a one-year and nine-month old toddler.
Deputy Commissioner of police Fitz Bailey says the unfortunate and brutal incident borders on terrorism, as he believes it was done to instill fear and intimidate the community.
He assured the public however, that those responsible will be brought to justice.
“We are at an early stage of our investigation. The scene is currently being processed, consequently I will not say much more but we promised this country and this nation that we will get to the bottom of this and those responsible will face justice,” DCP Bailey said on Sunday night while on scene of the gun attack.
“The police [are] committed to ensure that justice is done and we are using all our resources to ensure that the perpetrators are found and face justice,” he added.
