Confusion, Shock Over Murder Of 90-Year-Old
There is confusion and shock in Brown’s Town, and neighbouring communities, St Ann over the murder of 90-year-old retired Public Health Inspector Kenneth Downer, on Thursday, June 1.
Mr Downer was shot and killed at his home in Huntley, Brown’s Town, about 4:30 by a man who went there and demanded money.
The North Coast Times broke the story on its Facebook page Thursday.
Reports are that a man went to the home of Mr Downer and asked for money. Mr Downer who had come to the door, accompanied by his helper, appeared not to understand what the man was asking about. The helper said she would go and get what was there.
She had gone into the bedroom when she heard explosions. She returned to see Mr Downer in a pool of blood. He had been shot three times.
Mr Downer was pronounced dead at hospital.
Residents of St Ann know the former public health Inspector and Chief Public Health Inspector and JP as a pleasant, easy-going man of not many words.
He was often seen getting about his business, and often with a newspaper catching up on current affairs. More recently he stayed at home.
“Where poor Speck [inspector] fi get money. Is can’t dat them kill him for?” a member of the Baptist church he attended told the North Coast Times. Mr Downer was still called ‘Speck’ by some who knew him as a dutiful public health inspector.
He was commissioned as a justice of the peace in 1996, twenty-seven years ago, and was last year awarded and recognized with a plaque for his loyal and long service to the St Ann JPs
Reginald Thorpe, head of the Brown’s Town region of JPs was the man who took the plaque to Mr Downer’s Home and presented it to him, as he was unable to attend the ceremony. He said he had known Mr Downer for most of his life. Mr Thorpe said Mr Downer “was a quiet, soft spoken, well respected and devoted Christian. I have known him as a Health Inspector who was very dedicated to his job. He lived an exemplary life as a Justice of the Peace and as a deacon. The entire community of Brown’s Town is deeply saddened by this cold and cowardly act.”
Custos of the Parish Norma Walters said: “I know Mr. [Kenneth] JP Downer to be a dedicated Justice of the Peace. Indeed, his life was an exemplary one of integrity and dignity. Even during these senior years of his life he was committed to duty and served the citizens with enthusiasm.”
He leaves children, including daughter Andrea in Jamaica.
