A man police had first said had shot and killed one of his attackers, a school boy, and wounded another in St Ann, has been released from police custody.
It has now emerged that the school boy, 17-year-old, Ricardo Senior may have been murdered and that what police had been told was an attack by three men, including the school boy, had not occurred at all.
Last week Thursday, February 16, several news reports went out on national media claiming the school boy, from Ocho Rios High, St Ann, had been shot dead in a failed armed attempt by him and two others to hold up and rob a security guard.
The area where the shooting took place in Parry Town, near Ocho Rios, is notorious for hold ups and robberies. Residents told the North Coast Times that, in recent weeks, numerous people, especially hotel workers returning home from late evening work have been held up near the Parry Town playfield. Police have had at least one meeting in the area to reassure residents but the criminal actions continue.
That’s possibly why the story of the alleged attack was so easily swallowed.
But investigations by The Times indicate that, if anything, the schoolboy and two men, one of them a relative of the boy and the other an in-law had been ambushed and shot. Police said the in-law had served time in prison.
Police would not confirm that the three, including the school boy were ambushed but superintendent in charge of St Ann, Gary Francis said he had heard those reports. He said police were investigating the various reports. Asked whether police had any evidence that the security guard had been attacked, Supt Francis said no. He said he had a statement to that effect. He said when the police were investigating the report that the guard had been attacked and shot at three men who attacked him, one of those who were said to be attackers came forward telling police that they (including the school boy) had been attacked. Police have a report that three masked men had jumped out of bushes and ambushed Senior and two other men. One man ran away and escaped but Senior and the other man were shot and Senior died. The other man is still in hospital.
It has turned out that the boy, Senior who was preparing for CSEC examinations this May was a model student with an external examination pass in Grade 10 and was a prefect at the school. (See also teacher vouches for boy, p??)
Reports, not yet confirmed to The Times are that the security guard had in fact been attacked and robbed last year but that last week Wednesday he was not attacked.
The Times has been checking sources who indicate that more than one person had been involved in firing on the three males – including the schoolboy — who were likely ambushed in Parry Town. The sources point out that at least 21 shots had been fired and that the man who is wounded has been shot multiple times and Senior who was killed was shot twice. They said police recovered several spent shells. Police have said they recovered shell casings from more than one weapon.
The school boy, Senior, apparently had a premonition of his demise or at least that something would happen to him. He had, earlier in the day, been telling school mates to take care of themselves and told one of his friends “Mi nuh feel good.” The friend had encouraged him to go home and stay home.
However, Ricardo Senior who was talented in electronics and electrical installation is believed to have gone out to help repair phones. It is believed that as he and the two others were returning home when they were attacked.
Supt Francis said police have several statements and will rely on the DPP to determine if the guard is to be charged. A file is to be sent to that office shortly.
However The Times asked him why the DPP had to be relied on when police by investigating the incident and with evidence on the ground, plus statements, could come to a reasonable position about what happened. Supt Francis said police had contrasting and conflicting statements and did not have prima facie evidence that could be used to charge the guard. He said they had to do all their investigations and leave the decision to the DPP.
Meantime, the school population, including teachers and students at Ocho Rios High as well as the boy’s family are stunned, not only by the death but also the allegations that he was an armed robber or would-be robber .
“If he lived a double life, he would be one of the greatest acts on earth. What I know is that he was a model student, never in trouble, not a detention not bad behavior,” said a source close to the school, who declined to be identified.
