Manchester school mourns shooting death of four-year-old girl

 

With just a few more days left in Child Month, a family and school community are mourning the tragic loss of yet another child. 

 

Teachers at Yabnel International Preparatory and Care Centre in Mandeville, Manchester, on Wednesday morning quickly put together a memorial for student Gia Griniell, complete with a framed photo of the four-year-old girl. 

 

Gia died following a shooting incident at her home on Ingleside Boulevard in Hanbury District on Tuesday night. 

 

Principal of the school, Deidria Watt-Christie, says the Ministry of Education has provided grief counselling, while members of the school community have been trying to support each other and the girl's family. 

 

She remembers Gia as an intelligent and bubbly student.

 

"She was a sweetheart. Any room that she walked into, she changed the atmosphere of that room. She was just a delight in any space that she entered. She was very intelligent. She was reading at four very well. Her cognitive skills were just very developed for her age. She had two parents who I believe loved and cared for her the best they could. And this is an unfortunate situation, but we continue to keep them in our prayers," said the principal.

 

Radio Jamaica News was informed that about 10 o'clock, Gia's mother, a licensed firearm holder, put her four- and twelve-year-old children to bed. 

 

While in the bathroom, the woman reportedly heard an explosion and found Gia with a bullet wound to the back of the head. 

 

The child was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead. 

 

The mother's firearm had reportedly been left inside a handbag. 

 

Representatives of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) have offered counselling to Gia's mother. 

 

Meanwhile, the police say a statement was taken from the mother, which will be reviewed along with other evidence gathered to determine if charges will be laid.