The murder of D’Johnnay Graham has left many stunned, especially her family, who never imagined that her boyfriend would allegedly take her life. Graham was killed on Wednesday night, and her boyfriend, a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, has been named a suspect.
He reportedly shot her in the head with his service pistol and then attempted to kill himself. However, the policeman has since been hospitalised with a gunshot wound to the head and is in stable condition.
Following the incident, the usually peaceful neighbourhood that Graham lived in plunged into grief. Graham, a 21-year-old teaching assistant, was beloved by the community.
A taxi man who watched her grow into a hard-working young woman was visibly distressed when speaking to the media. A teacher at the infant school where Graham worked also expressed heartbreak, describing her as a warm and caring colleague who was adored by her students. A resident described her as kind, always offering assistance to children.
The family not only feels grief but also a deep sense of betrayal. According to Councillor Paul Fyffe, the accused officer was not a stranger to the family. “The young man would’ve visited the home and portrayed himself as a family person,” he said.
“The mother even treated him like a son… So, for him to do something like that is just shocking.” He said the mother felt betrayed for welcoming him into her home and treating him like he was a part of the family.
Fyffe shared that although there had been signs of tension in the relationship, no one expected the situation to end in such a violent way. “The young girl’s mother said she was sitting in the living room when she heard the shot and thought her son-in-law was testing out the gun,” he added.
The police were called to their address around 9:15 p.m. by neighbours who reported hearing explosions. Police found the couple with gunshot wounds, and Graham was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The young woman’s dreams were cut short when her boyfriend allegedly killed her due to jealousy over something he had no proof of, according to the councillor. She had planned to begin teachers’ college in September. The Independent Commission of Investigations is currently probing the incident.