UPDATED: Boys, 7 and 9, among three slain in taxi
Published:Tuesday | November 7, 2023 | 12:11 AMJanet Silvera/Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Fearful that her son could get caught up in the bloody gang feud wreaking havoc in Flower Hill and Salt Spring, St James, seven-year-old Justin Perry’s mother warned his driver not to venture beyond their home.
“My son’s mother warned the driver not to take him up the road because war up there,” Justin’s father, who said he would not give his name, told The Gleaner.
Justin and his schoolmate, nine-year-old Nacholive Smith, of Chetwood Primary, and a man who remains unidentified, were shot and killed by gunmen while travelling in a taxi from school yesterday.
“Justin was a brilliant student who gave no trouble. Good behaving boy. An A-student. Deep inside everything inside me is gone,” lamented the father, almost in tears.
According to him, the driver, who has been transporting his son for the last four years, is known to transport schoolchildren in the community on private charter.
Justin resided at Repasture and Nacholive lived at Buck Toe Lane in the Salt Spring community. The deceased man lived in Flower Hill.
Reports are that about 6 p.m., they were travelling in the back of the vehicle on their way home, when the driver picked up a male passenger, who seemed to have been the attackers’ target.
The gunmen fired shots into the car, hitting the male passenger several times.
He died on the spot.
The boys, who were also struck, were pronounced dead at Cornwall Regional Hospital.
The killings follow four deaths in the last two weeks in the area.
The police, who were continuing their investigations at press time, believe the shooting is gang-related.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The previous article had incorrectly stated that Justin Perry was nine years old.