Police found two women dead in the eastern Kingston community of Harbour View on Thursday after hearing several gunshots. Police say the women were attacked in Bayshore Park in the early morning. Authorities identified the women as 87-year-old Merna Robinson and 37-year-old Phyllis Powell, otherwise called Munchie. Reports say the women are believed to be relatives.
Unverified claims say Powell is Robinson’s granddaughter. These claims also indicate that the attackers were allegedly targeting Robinson, but Powell’s presence led to her being a casualty. Officials have confirmed neither of these claims.
According to a report, residents said they heard several loud explosions in the early morning hours. When checks were made after the explosions ceased, the bodies of the women were found with gunshot wounds. The report confirmed that the times of the explosions were consistent with the gunshots.
The Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) reported that the women were fatally shot; the details surrounding the circumstances of the incident have not been disclosed. Additionally, no motive for the double homicide has been released.
An investigation has since been launched into the incident, and police spent several hours processing the scene. Police are urging the public to contact the Harbour View Police or Crime Stop at 311 if they have any information regarding the case.
The killings have sent shockwaves through the community and increased concerns about violence against women in the country. The double homicide adds to a string of fatal attacks this week that involved females. Jamaica has now recorded 6 females murdered in just one week. This figure includes a four-year-old girl who was shot dead while she was in a vehicle with her father, who sustained injuries and was hospitalised. The death toll also includes a woman who was allegedly chopped to death by her spouse following long-standing disputes.