Gregory Park Primary School dismissed prematurely on Thursday after a shootout between police and gunmen on the compound.
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Senior Superintendent Christopher Phillips, Commanding Officer for the St. Catherine South Division and Gregory Park Primary School principal Richard Williams
By Nakinskie Robinson/Kimone Witter
Commanding Officer for the St. Catherine South Police Senior Superintendent Christopher Phillips says preliminary reports indicate that the men who were involved in a confrontation with the police on Thursday morning, at Gregory Park Primary School in St. Catherine, might have been planning a reprisal attack.
He says a police team attached to the St. Catherine South Operational Unit, who were acting on intelligence, arrived at the school about 8:15 a.m. where at least three armed men were seen lurking at the front of the premises.
On the arrival of the police, the men ran in different directions.
It's reported that one of the men scaled the perimeter wall of the school in a bid to escape.
SSP Phillips said the man was confronted on the compound where he was fatally shot, and a Taurus 9mm pistol seized.
The senior cop explained that there has been a flare up of violence in Gregory Park.
"About a day or two ago, we had a murder inside there and what our intel is suggesting is that these men were actually planning a retaliation for that murder," he suggested.
The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is probing the incident.
Security boost needed
Staff and students at Gregory Park Primary were left traumatised following Thursday's exchange of fire between the police and gunmen.
Principal Richard Williams said counselling sessions were held and school dismissed prematurely.
"For some children, it was the first time they are experiencing anything like that, and for it to happen on the school compound, that was quite frightening and alarming," he bemoaned.
The principal added that the Education Ministry will provide further grief counselling for students on Friday.
He said the incident highlights the urgent need for a revision of the school's existing security measures.
Mr. Williams said the school will be looking to implement additional safety measures, including extending its perimeter wall and adding razor wire and CCTV cameras.
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