Promising Clarendon student stabbed to death

Students and teachers of Clarendon College are today in shock following the brutal murder of sixth-former 18-year-old Avinash Gordon.

Principal David Wilson described her as a "beautiful young lady, lovely spirit, and always supportive of school activities".

Gordon was killed at her home in Bushy Park in the parish on Wednesday night. Two friends, who were also in the house, reported hearing strange sounds and screams coming from her room. They hid and called the police.

The police found Gordon's body in her room in a pool of blood, with what appeared to be several stab wounds.

"We want to speak to the varying communities for each person to give a caring hand. Be supportive, ensure that our children are protected, whether first or sixth former. I'm appealing to Clarendon parents to see everybody's child as their own," Wilson shared with the school body yesterday morning.

Reflecting on Gordon, guidance counsellor Rosemarie Thompson Tucker remembered her wonderful smile and welcoming personality.

"She was a loving girl, lively, always on the go. Whenever she sees you, she always greets you with that smile, and she had a welcoming personality," she said.

Rev Jennifer Samms said that it was time to seek the face of God to find out what was going on in Jamaica, noting that this problem could not be handled in the physical realm, but the spiritual.

"It's sad when you have to console a mother who lost her child. It makes tears come to my eyes," she said.

"We have to find the solution. We all have to come together. We have to fast, we have to pray about the senseless crime that is going on in this land. I call on all kingdom people. I'm not talking about religious people, but people who know God, to join hands and hearts against crime."

Urging the country to return to the practices of protecting children and looking out for each other, Education Minister Ruel Reid said that it was indeed a challenging moment for the school community of Clarendon College as Gordon was a student of great promise, who was well liked by her peers and teachers.