‘MOMMY, MI DEAD’
Clarendon parents, school racked with pain after 13-y-o fatally stabbed
Published:Tuesday | March 29, 2022 | 12:11 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
The last words 13-year-old Omarion Haniford reportedly cried out after he was stabbed two days ago are seared into the memory of his mother, who is still traumatised after a seemingly routine Sunday morning was transformed into a hellish nightmare.
Reports from the May Pen police are that about 8:45 a.m., Omarion was at his Morant Housing Scheme home in Crofts Hill, Clarendon, on Sunday when his uncle, who is said to be mentally challenged, allegedly used a ratchet knife to stab him in the neck, fatally, during a dispute.
Omarion reportedly ran from the house and collapsed in the yard.
The police were summoned and the injured teen taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
On Monday, Omarion's mother, Morena Taylor, was inconsolable as she grieved the tragic loss of the older of her two children.
She told The Gleaner that Sunday began as a regular family day as the family performed various chores together.
Taylor said that she and Omarion were about to head out to purchase items to make dinner, when he went inside the house to get a shopping bag.
“In a split second, I hear Omarion bawl out, 'Mommy, mi dead!' Nothing else. Bare blood,” Taylor said, adding that her son ran from the house and collapsed in the yard near his grandmother's house.
“Omar should never dead like that. Omar is only 13 years old. Him nuh live nuh life. Him nuh do nobody nutten,” she cried, adding that her son was well mannered and helpful.
Fitzroy Haniford, Omarion's father, could not fathom that the father-son days of washing cars and farming had been tragically condemned to mere memories now, especially so soon.
The fact that his brother has been taken into custody for his son's murder has made the grief even heavier.
Haniford said that he shared a close relationship with his accused brother, who had only come to visit the family home on Saturday night.
He told The Gleaner that he was not aware of his brother suffering from any mental illness.
Describing his son as very respectful, the grief-stricken father described Omarion as his right hand.
“Daytime mi have work fi get done, mi just call pan Omar. Omar always di deh fi help mi out,” he said.
Speaking of when he got the tragic news, he said, “Mi turn fool”, his voice breaking.
Yesterday, Omarion's parents visited the Kellits High School, where they were being offered grief counselling.
Several guidance counsellors from institutions across the Clarendon had also gathered to offer support to the grieving school community.
Omarion's best friend fainted and was consoled by guidance counsellors as many students wept openly.
His form teacher, Taneca Stewart-Green, was a picture of despair.
She will now cherish the last video footage she captured of the jovial youngster last Monday as he made funny faces .
An emotional Stewart-Green told The Gleaner that although she heard of his passing while in church on Sunday, she was still in disbelief. The telling reality jolted her when she entered the classroom Monday morning.
“He was the firecracker of the class. Omarion will be greatly missed by all of us. Some of his classmates are not taking it well,” she told The Gleaner.
Kellits High Principal Texal Christie said the entire school was in shock and mourning.
“We've never experienced anything like this,” he said amid the sombre mood.
Christie said that the school will continue to provide counselling support where necessary.