KINGSTON, Jamaica — The mother and her four children, who were murdered in Chapelton, Clarendon Tuesday morning have been identified.

They are 31-year-old Kemisha Wright of Cocoa Piece in the parish and her four children — 15-year-old Kimana Smith; 10-year-old Shemari Smith; five-year-old Kafana Smith and 23-month-old baby boy Kishaun Henry.

Their identities were revealed in a statement from Prime Minister Andrew Holness as he strongly condemned the incident which he labelled as “an act of savagery, barbarity and brutality of unequal proportions”.

“All Jamaicans must unequivocally condemn the murder of four innocent children and their mother. This marks a new low in the level of violence in our society. This is not just a domestic dispute. This murder represents an attack on our civility, an attack on our sensibilities and it is an attack on our nation,” Holness said.

The prime minister said the police and the minister of national security will be putting all resources into ensuring the perpetrator is caught and brought to justice.

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

READ: UPDATE: Person of interest named in killing of mother, four children

Expressing his condolences and deep sympathies to the family, Holness said the entire nation is praying for them and surrounding them with love and support.

“I think this is a point where all Jamaicans should reflect on the level of violence in the society and how we have come to normalise violence and that each and every one of us, how we rear our children, how we interact with each other, how we conduct our social transactions, we must all turn away from violence as a means of resolving disputes and conflicts,” he said.

Noting that Wright was a hardworking and honest young woman who was making a life for herself and her children, Holness said, “The entire country is today feeling immense pain following these bloodcurdling murders, which show extreme contempt for the sanctity of life, and is especially devastated that young, innocent children were viciously cut down.”

“The murder of this family reflects the epidemic of interpersonal violence that bedevils our society and reinforces the need for us to continue to pursue a holistic approach to this disease of inter-personal violence in our society. Horrific murders such as these are shocking to our very core and we must finally resolve as a country to set aside differences and take every action necessary, in an all-of-society effort to save lives and eradicate violence at its root.

“I express most heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Ms Wright and her children and commit to taking every step to finding and thoroughly prosecuting those responsible for these horrific murders,” he continued.

As investigations carry on, the prime minister said the police anticipate a breakthrough in the case in short order.

In the meantime, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang will visit the community on Tuesday.

Holness said state agencies including Child Protection and Family Services Agency have already been deployed to provide support, and Member of Parliament, Minister without Portfolio with Responsibility for Information, Robert Morgan has also activated his internal support mechanisms to assist the family and community at this time.

The police are urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation.