KINGSTON, Jamaica— Grief counselling support was provided to the students of St John’s Primary School on Monday, May 12, following the murder of a nine-year-old, Kelsey Ferrigon at her home on Job Lane in Spanish Town, St Catherine, on Friday.

“The children were gathered as normal because we normally have general assembly on Monday, and then the teachers, we spoke to them about the issue and told them how to respond or where to go for help in case they are experiencing any form of stress. So they were told to go to either the teacher, if the teachers feel like they can’t manage, then they’ll send them down to the guidance council for additional assistance. The police were also here. They addressed them, and the chaplain also prayed for everyone. Then they had a session with the teachers,” said Rosena Slater, vice principal of St John’s Primary School.

Slater shared that the school community ended last week in a celebratory mode and was devastated to learn of Kelsey’s death over the weekend.

“For this week we were really on a high because we had just placed fourth at Central Champs, so we were celebrating that. Even in our Junior School Challenge Quiz for Kids, they won their match, so we were celebrating that and on Thursday before we left, we had reading competition, so we had the children were celebrating. We had Teachers’ Day, you know, Read Across Jamaica Day, so they were just celebrating. So, to find a week ending, and that is the news you get, it was really devastating. Because everybody was already happy and celebrating. So you didn’t want to end the week. And that, funny enough, it was education week. So what a way to end the education week. Basically, we were just really saddened to hear something like that. That’s not what you want to get up to on a Saturday morning,” Slater said.

Kelsey’s partially naked body was reportedly discovered about 8:00 pm on Friday upside down in a barrel at her home. Her body appeared to have been beaten, and investigators theorise that she was sexually assaulted.

A person of interest has since been named following the incident.

READ: 9-y-o girl murdered in Spanish Town; police name person of interest

(Video: Naphtali Junior)