Love triangle blamed for St James quadruple murder...eight-year-old among those slaughtered in gun attack

Speculations are rife that a love triangle is to blame for Wednesday night's brazen gun attack in the Richmond Hill community of Bickersteth in St James, which resulted in the deaths of four persons, including an eight-year-old girl.

The deceased have been identified as 26-year-old tiler, Junior Scott, popularly known as Prince, who is of a Denham Town, Kingston, address; Scott's girlfriend, 28-year-old Loise Lorraine Watson; Watson's eight-year-old daughter, Shaya Riana Prince, a student of the Barracks Road Primary School, and a man identified only as Kimali, who is said to be of a Waterhouse address in Kingston.

"We have been hearing about a love triangle situation going on, and the feeling is that it might be the cause of this massacre," a resident told The Gleaner. "It is so sad, especially with a child being killed and all that."

Reports are that Scott, who might have been the target of the attack, was found dead on the floor, close to the door leading outside, with an ice pick in his hand.

Police reports are that approximately 2:30 a.m., residents heard numerous loud explosions and later discovered the four bodies with multiple gunshot wounds.

Window panes missing

It is further reported that two blades of the window glass were missing from a section of the house. Two building blocks were mounted below the window from where it is believed the shots were fired. Several .45 mm and 9mm spent shells were found at the scene. The police are of the view that more than one attacker was involved.

Derrick Champagnie, superintendent of police in charge of St James, said while the police would be following all possible leads, initial investigations point to a possible love triangle as Watson was receiving threats from someone she used to be involved with.

"She had been receiving threats on her phone reportedly from someone with whom she had a relationship," said Champagnie. "One man is said to have gone to Shaya's school to collect her and brought her home, at which point a quarrel is said to have ensued between the man and Watson."

According to residents, the four were fairly new in the community. According to reports, Scott and Kimali came there two months ago, while Watson and her daughter came a month later. They all resided in the same two bedroom board house in which they met their demise.