ST ANN, Jamaica — Administrative Bishop of the New Testament Church of God in Jamaica, Bishop Roy L Notice, has expressed sympathy for the family of nine-year-old Kelsey Ferrigon, who was murdered over the weekend.

Kelsey was found partially naked, upside down in a barrel. It was suspected that she had been beaten and sexually assaulted.

Giovanni ‘Coolie Man’ Ellis was quickly named as a person of interest in connection to the incident and was later shot dead by cops in Sandy Bay, Clarendon, on Monday in an alleged confrontation. Ellis was reportedly on bail for a charge of cruelty to a child.

READ: ‘Kelsey was an angel’

“We are concerned about the safety of our children. We mourn the gruesome murder of the nine-year-old recently. Abused, murdered and stuffed in a barrel and left without dignity. We mourn,” said Notice.

Notice was speaking at a summit held in Runaway Bay, St Ann to celebrate the New Testament Church of God’s 100 years of existence in Jamaica.

Noting that the murder rate continues to be a concern, he applauded the security forces for the work they have been doing.

“Murder is at an unacceptable high place in this place we call paradise. We, however, thank God [for] the significant reduction in our rate over the past few months. This is a testament to the dedication of our security forces,” he said.

— Akera Davis