The St Andrew Central Police Division has reported a troubling 36% increase in murders this year, with 60 recorded killings as of October 12, up from 44 in 2023. This rise was highlighted by the shocking murder of Gary Leslie, a parent shot in front of children at Rousseau Primary School. The tragic incident has left the community in disbelief, with detectives still investigating the crime.

Students get flat as gunmen kill parent at primary school

Jamaica Gleaner/15 Oct 2024/Andre Williams/staff Reporter 

UP TO late Monday evening, detectives were still processing a crime scene at the Rousseau Primary School in St Andrew, hours after the murder of a parent in full view of children and other parents.

The deceased man has been identified as Gary ‘Junior’ Leslie.

His shaken family left the school compound at 6 p.m., still in disbelief at the tragic turn of events after Leslie went to pick up his daughter after school.

A woman, who identified herself as a sister of the deceased, hung her head as she entered a vehicle that was waiting to take them home.

“I don’t have the strength. [I] can’t talk now,” another relative said as she was being consoled by another.

The Gleaner understands that the family is from Olympic Gardens and Spanish Town, St Catherine. The latter has seen a spate of violence and killings in recent days.

Reports from the police are that Leslie entered the school compound some time after 2 p.m.

As he exited a white Toyota Probox, he was approached by two men who were seemingly waylaying him.

They opened fire, hitting him in the head before making their escape.

Leslie was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) where he was pronounced dead.

A parent told The Gleaner the daughter of the deceased man fainted on witnessing the attack.

“I’m glad they didn’t hurt the children. She and my daughter was in the same class ... . My child was just exiting class when she heard loud explosions and her teacher locked the door and told them to get on the ground until it was safe,” the parent told The Gleaner.

Up to press time, it had not been determined whether school would be held on Tuesday, but grief counselling was being arranged.

The St Andrew Central Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), which is probing the killing, has not yet established a motive for it.

The St Andrew Central Police Division has seen a 36 per cent yearon-year increase in murders, as at October 12.

The division has seen 60 murders so far this year, compared to 44 for the corresponding period in 2023.

The islandwide murder tally for this year stood at 897, as at October 12, a 19.2 per cent decline from 2023.

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