One Seaforth High School student is dead, and three others are in police custody after a stabbing incident on Monday afternoon. The deadly altercation occurred in Morant Bay, where one teen purchased a knife to stab a student he had been arguing with earlier that day.
The commanding officer for the St Thomas Division, Rohan Ritchie, confirmed that the students are schoolmates who had an altercation on the school’s compound. The cause of the dispute is unclear, but it led to a second confrontation that turned fatal.
At the time of the incident, the students were near the Morant Bay Transport Centre and an internet café known as Teen Hub, where students frequently visit. DSP Richie reported that, based on the preliminary findings, the attacker went to a nearby store and purchased a knife.
He then confronted the victim armed and used the knife to inflict stab wounds on him between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The victim collapsed after being stabbed, and two men who witnessed the incident picked him up and rushed him to the Princess Margaret Hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
DSP Richie confirmed that the police detained three students who were at the scene. One of them is believed to be the attacker, while the other two will face questioning regarding the matter.
The Ministry of Education has since condemned the fatal stabbing. In a statement, the ministry said it is quickly providing support to Seaforth High School. Officials and counsels were deployed to the institution as part of its efforts to assist everyone at the institution. The ministry described the period as a “distressing time” for the school and said it is helping the police with the probe.
Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon sent condolences to the victim’s family and the school. She said the incident is a reminder that early intervention is needed to prevent acts of violence. She called on the public to work together in removing violence from the schools.
The ministry emphasised its commitment to fostering schools that are safe and secure and youths who are responsible.
