Mayor condemns deadly gun attack on St. Mary High School compound

By Clinton McGregor/Kimone Witter  

 

Mayor of Port Maria Fitzroy Wilson has condemned Wednesday night's deadly shooting on the compound of St. Mary High School in Highgate, and urged eyewitnesses to assist the police in finding the suspects. 

 

One man was fatally shot and four others, including a student, injured in the incident.

 

The deceased has been identified as 28-year-old Fabian Needham, otherwise called 'Killy Killy', a pump attendant of Highgate, St. Mary.

 

It's reported that about 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Mr. Needham got into a dispute with a group of men on the school compound where people had gathered for a party following Sports Day activities.

 

Mr. Needham was chased and shot after he threw a bottle at one of the men.

 

He died at the scene.

 

Following the shooting, it was discovered that four other people were wounded.

 

Three, including the student, were treated at hospital and released.

 

A man, who was shot in the chest, was admitted.

 

"When you could see that somebody would be running for their lives and running to a public place, what type of society [do] we have now where men would chase somebody onto a school compound, murder that person with a hail of gunshots, bullets, and in the process, injure several other persons, innocent bystanders?" Mayor Wilson questioned, lamenting that the society has become lawless. 

 

Despite this characterisation, he maintained that "all is not lost" because he believes the "majority of Jamaicans are law abiding citizens".

 

Deputy Superintendent Kevin Francis, acting head of the St. Mary Police, said the police are pursuing leads into the shooting. He urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact the police.