16-Y-O THREATENED HOURS BEFORE HIT

WESTERN BUREAU:

RELATIVES OF Carson Barrett, the 16-year-old Grange Hill High School student who was shot dead on Thursday, believe that his death stemmed from a relationship he had with a female who lives in the community.

That relationship earned the wrath of others and in particular one man believed to be deeply connected to gang activities within that space in Westmoreland.

The Gleaner understands that Barrett, who up to the time of his death had lived with his extended family in Top Lincoln, Grange Hill, was causing discomfort to an unidentified gangster, who was jealous of the relationship he was having with a young girl from the community.

“All we have been hearing is that a threat was allegedly sent to him during the day over a girl, and several hours after, while he was walking home from school, they rode him down and killed him,” Wendy-Ann White, Barrett’s cousin and guardian, informed The Gleaner.

On Thursday, Barrett and a female student were attacked and shot by criminal elements while walking home at the end of their school’s inter-house sports day activities.

Barrett died at hospital while the female was admitted.

ATTACKED ALONG ROADWAY

The Westmoreland police reported that on April 25, two men opened gunfire on the victims along the Belle Isle Road in the parish.

“Both victims had just left school and were walking along the roadway when they were pounced upon by two suspects travelling on a motorcycle. The motorcycle stopped and the pillion disembarked with a gun in his hand and opened gunfire at both victims who ran in different directions.

“Barrett ran off in the direction of the Monument and was chased by the pillion, who continued to fire gunshots at him. Barrett collapsed along the roadway. The police were alerted and upon their arrival, Barrett was found lying face down along the roadway in a pool of blood, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body,” the Westmoreland police said.

However, initial reports from the police said Barrett may have been killed as a result of his association with members of the infamous Kings Valley Gang operating in that space, which has an ongoing feud with the emerging Ants Posse Gang also with operational clusters in the Grange Hill area.

“I am not going to swear for him or anybody other than myself, but I don’t know of him being in any gang,” White told The Gleaner.

She stated that it is not fair to be branding people as being involved or associated in criminal gang activities just because they may have lived in the area people from a gang are said to be operating from.

“He is not in any gang. Everybody knows everybody and it doesn’t mean because an individual talked to someone believed to be a gangster that you are also involved in gang activities,” Bennett’s guardian added.

PREPARING FOR FIRST CSEC

Grange Hill High School Principal Trevine Donaldson-Lawrence said that Barrett was making final preparations to sit social studies in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams next month.

“Social studies was the only subject that he was planning to do this year. He left the rest for next year,” Donaldson-Lawrence revealed.

“But by all indications, the possibilities existed that he would be doing mathematics, English, science, physical education, data operations and agricultural science at CSEC,” she noted, adding that at the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training level, her student was also set to be doing crop production next year.

Jada Lee McGregor, Barrett’s older sister, recalls that her brother was not one who talks a lot and that he internalises things.

“He’s an introvert, who was looking forward to expanding on raising his animals,” said McGregor, who spoke on behalf of her mother, Andia Martin, who was said to be emotionally disturbed at the news of her son’s death.

The Top Lincoln schoolboy raised pigs, goats and rabbits at home.

Although his mother was not living in Jamaica at the time of his death, White says she was very involved in his life, including having direct communication with several of his teachers.

“His mother did not just leave him on his own; they have a healthy family bond, even though she lives overseas. They communicate well and regularly,” White said of Barrett and his mother.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com