A St Mary woman was killed by her police boyfriend, who later tried to take his own life. The attempted murder-suicide occurred on Wednesday night when the couple returned home.
The victim, 21-year-old D’Johnnay Peta-Gaye Graham, also known as Moya, was a teaching assistant at an infant school. Her life was cut short in the Essex community of St Mary when a reported argument over a phone call spiralled into deadly violence.
According to circulating allegations, the couple had travelled to Kingston earlier that day when Graham received a phone call that reportedly triggered the dispute. It is unclear who the caller was, as this was not mentioned.
While returning home, the disagreement escalated to a boiling point, leading to the officer fetching his service firearm when they arrived. It ended with the police constable, who is assigned to the St Andrew North division, using his gun to shoot Graham in the head. He then aimed his Glock service pistol at his own head and fired.
He survived and is currently hospitalised in stable condition under police guard. Graham, however, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Richmond Police are continuing their investigation.
News of the incident triggered an outpouring of reactions online. Hundreds of comments poured in, with some expressing heartbreak and others calling out the ongoing issue of violence in relationships, particularly those involving law enforcement.
Many are grieving for the young woman, with comments like, “Such a beautiful girl…my condolences to her loved ones,” and “SIP beautiful…condolences to her family and friends!” Others are expressing growing concern about relationships involving armed officers.
Locals also voiced frustration about the emotional instability of men trusted with firearms. While some women pleaded with others to walk away from relationships that show clear signs of domestic violence, others even begged women to think twice before dating armed professionals.