GEORGE’S PLAIN, Westmoreland — The death of a 13-year-old boy by a bullet from what is believed to be an illegal gun has left his family shattered and puzzled even as some members of the clan have been taken into custody by the police who say they are unable to find the weapon.

Kayshan Enriquez Watson, commonly called Prince, succumbed to the injury at Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland on Wednesday about 4:30 am, hours after the incident reportedly occurred at his aunt’s house Tuesday afternoon.

On Thursday the boy’s father, Radrick Watson, said he was leaving work when he received a call informing him that his son had been shot.

“I almost crashed because I was reversing out of the place. I look, but I did not see anything, even though something was coming,” he said, pointing out that a collision was averted because the driver of the oncoming vehicle had seen him reversing and stopped.

Watson believes that the shooting was accident.

He said that although his son, the eighth of his nine children, had a bullet in the head he was able to respond to him.

“I said ‘Prince… stamp your foot, and he stamp his foot. Ah more than one time it happened. I left from inside the hospital and went at the door and called the rest of my children and all of them were here with me,” Watson told the Jamaica Observer.

“Bwoy, him gone, but he was fighting it. He was strong,” the father said.

He lamented that several family members, including his brother, who had come to help, were taken into custody by the police.

“My brother coming from work and hear about the incident, drop his tool bag and run go down there to assist his nephew. Police have him lock up and not letting him out. I brought something to give him yesterday (Wednesday) and they don’t take it. So, all day him don’t eat. It was an inspector who made a call and ah so come they took the little snack that I took for my brother, because he does not eat meat,” stated Watson.

“They go back and they scoop up my nephew and his girlfriend and left the three pickney dem alone in the house. Ah the eight-year-old have to be taking care of the two smaller ones,” he said.

Watson said his son was a helpful child who gave no trouble.

“He is my friend, my son, my brother, and everything. We can sit down and reason and work together
— everything. He is a hard-working youth who is not lazy, but when him a eat, him eat nuff,” the father said.

Kayshan started attending Little London High School last September.

On Thursday, as news of his death reached the school, his classmates wept openly and had to receive counselling.

The school’s guidance counsellor, Randall Gordon, also visited the family home in Blue Castle District, George’s Plain, to provide support to the family.

“We continue to assist in the grieving process. It is not easy losing a male student. Again, it seems as if they are mirroring what they are seeing in society. It is very sad to lose him in this way, to the gun, which is one of the most horrendous weapons that can be thought of,” stated Gordon.

He described Kayshan as an average child who was loved by his classmates.

“He was not regular [in attendance] at school, and I believe that his socio-economic situation would have caused him not to be present every day of the week. But, when his father could, he sent him to school,” Gordon said.

Following the incident, more than 120 police personnel and a Jamaica Public Service team carried out an operation in the area as early as 6:00 am on Thursday.

A police source noted that while the security forces tried to locate the weapon, illegal electricity connections in the area were also a concern.

“My concern is that the gun was removed from the scene after the death and we are searching for the gun,” the source added.

Former councillor for the Frome Division Rudolph Uter, who was also on hand to give support to the family, urged residents to tell the police what they know.

“I am using this opportunity to encourage residents who are here that whatever you know, you need to talk. Look at what is happening in your community. Some of the time we see a lot of things and we just stand by. It is only when we are directly affected that we echo our voices,” stated Uter.

“I have been in touch with the family members and they have been receiving my support. I will continue to support them because it is not easy for them at this time,” he said.