A wave of grief has swept through the community of Commodore in Linstead, St. Catherine, after five people — including a 4-year-old girl — were shot and killed in a mass shooting late Sunday night.
The incident reportedly occurred shortly after 10 p.m., when gunmen descended upon a home in the area, opening fire on its occupants and several individuals standing nearby.
According to a bereaved relative the victims include a woman, three men, and the young child, whose lives were cut short in the brutal attack. Four other persons, including another child, were also injured and rushed to hospital for treatment.
Early reports suggest that multiple assailants carried out the shooting, and that the victims were targeted both inside the home and just outside the residence. It is believed that the incident is gang-related.
In a heartbreaking twist, several of the deceased — including the little girl — are said to be relatives of footballer Cleon Pryce and call centre worker Brittny Hunter, two first cousins who both died recently in separate motor vehicle accidents.
The St. Catherine North Police Division has since launched a full investigation into the killings, as residents of Commodore remain shaken by what many describe as one of the community’s most devastating tragedies in recent memory.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the probe.
Jamaica News Hub will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.
