Thirteen-year-old Shawn Clayton’s mother (left) being assisted by community members. (PHOTO: PHILP LEMONTE)
WHITHORN, Westmoreland — A pall of gloom has blanketed the Old Road section of this community where four people, including a teenager, were gunned down during a daring gun attack by a group of unknown assailants yesterday.
The deceased have been identified as 13-year-old Knockalva High student Shawn Clayton, also called Little; 20-year-old Romario Drummond, also called Powdy; 22-year-old Theodore Tennant; and Demar Doeman, also called Gieko.
The quadruple killing has catapulted the murder tally in the parish to 50 since the start of the year, 27 more than the 23 reported for the same period last year.
Reports are that about 2:40 pm the four were among a group playing Nintendo games in a small ice-cream shop when they were pounced upon by about four men, who peppered them with gunshots.
The incident reportedly took place a short distance from the Whithorn Police Station, shortly after a shower of rain.
It is understood that four young boys who were also in the shop at the time of the attack managed to escape unhurt.
“Two little baby boys, who ran pass me, had blood on their bodies,” a community member said.
A police source told the Jamaica Observer that it is theorised that last evening’s killings were in reprisal for a shooting that occurred in the area four months ago, where a community member was shot and injured.
Two of those killed yesterday were reportedly charged for the shooting.
Meanwhile, the killings attracted a large throng near the crime scene where family members of the deceased cried bitterly.
