STEP MOM SAYS DEVONIE ASKED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO OCHI HIGH
OCHO RIOS, St Ann; March 5, 2026
The stepmother of the slain 16-year-old Ocho Rios High School student says the boy loved schoolwork, was ambitious and wanted to become an electrical engineer.
Devonie Shearer died Wednesday evening, March 4, 2026, in the St Ann’s Bay hospital, after being hit with a metal chair on the back of the head by a 17-year-old classmate with whom he had a dispute. That boy is in police custody.
Marlene Chambers Devonie’s stepmother said he used to visit regularly from western Jamaica and asked her to arrange a transfer for him from Green Island High School, as he admired the standard at Ocho Rios High, St Ann.
He was accepted at Ocho Rios High last September. The other boy was among several students who were welcomed after Ocho Rios High school opened its doors to those whose education was affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Ms Chambers said she answered the call from the school on Wednesday afternoon, about the attack on Devonie, and was told to go to St Ann’s Bay Hospital, where he was taken after being knocked unconscious. She said she didn’t want to accept that he was dead, as stated by the medical team, and she told the doctor she would take him home.
Ms Chambers said she had been told something about Devonie having a dispute with a boy at the school, and a mention was made about a girl being involved, in whom Devonie was not interested.
Ms Chambers spoke to reporters after a visit by the Minister of Education and a team of officials who had earlier visited the school. Devonie’s father was very emotional and prematurely ended an interview with some reporters.
