JAMAICA: 18 people shot, eight dead after party shooting

Eight people who were shot and killed in a bloody massacre in Cherry Tree Lane, Four Paths, Clarendon on Sunday have been identified.

They include a seven-year-old boy, Aiden Bartley, who was a student at Four Paths Primary and Infant School.

The other deceased are:

•27-year-old Kavel Daley, a therapist;

• 50-year-old construction worker Lawrence Francis;

•20-year-old Diamond Bennett, a cashier;

• 58-year-old butcher, Errol Stewart, also known as ‘Wagga’;

•32-year-old Jermaine Boothe, also known as ‘Blacks’;

•Courtney Messam, also known as ‘Dummbie’;

• A woman identified as Margaret.

A one-year old boy and a 70-year-old woman are among 10 others who were injured and have been hospitalised.

Official reports reaching The Gleaner are that a white Toyota Axio drove up to a bar where a party was being held, and three men alighted from the vehicle armed with rifles and handguns, and opened fire on the patrons.

When the shooting subsided, seven-year-old Aiden and three others were pronounced dead at the scene, and two others pronounced dead at hospital.

The police say the gunmen then drove off in the direction of the May Pen bypass and on reaching another section of Cherry Tree Lane, they stopped at another gathering where two men exited the vehicle armed with handguns, and opened gunfire at another group before escaping in the waiting vehicle.

After the second shooting incident subsided, it was discovered that two men died on the spot, making it eight fatalities.

The injured victims are said to be in serious condition.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner