Entertainers Queen Ifrica (seated right) and Tony Rebel (standing), along with friends, turned up at the gate of the Boulevard shopping centre in St Andrew yesterday morning after news emerged that four people were shot and killed. One of the victims was said to be a studio engineer who worked with the entertainers. - Norman Grindley

An engineer and selector, known for working with Tony Rebel and Queen Ifrica, was among the four persons killed in an incident at the Double Diamond Club and Gaming Lounge, Washington Boulevard, St Andrew, early yesterday morning.

E'jon Peart, 20, from 37 Greendale Drive, Kingston 19, was killed along with Davian Kerr, 19, from a Pembroke Hall; William Wilberforce and Lynchmore Forbes, a 23-year-old labourer also from Pembroke Hall.

Also injured in the incident was Leslie 'Steve' Moodie, a corporal of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coastguard, who has been accused of the shooting incident.

Reports are that approximately 4:15 a.m., a birthday party was in full swing at Shop 23, Boulevard Shopping Centre, when 31-year-old Moodie approached a woman and was in discussions with her.

Altercation

Male companions of the woman are said to have approached him and an altercation developed. Sometime after that, it is alleged that Moodie pulled his gun and started firing indiscriminately. Three persons, Peart, Kerr and Wilberforce, were killed on the spot. Forbes was pronounced dead at the Kingston Public Hospital.

Ifrica and Rebel were early on the scene and identified Peart's body. Efforts by THE STAR to speak to the artistes proved futile but his mother, Claudette Peart, said he was the youngest of three children and her only son.

"It's sad that my son had to die that way, I can't even tell you how I feel. My son was a quiet, decent and easy-going young man. He was only doing what he loved and that's music, I was not pleased with his choice but he excelled at what he loved," she said.

In the meantime, the family and friends of the soldier who has been accused of the shooting have reacted with disbelief

"A no Steve that, him only come every night come drink him liquor and leave, him no mek trouble," friends argued as news spread that the soldier had opened fire in the crowded nightclub.

Scary experience

"Somebody must trouble him. Steve drink Guinness and Red Bull every night and him no drunk," his friends claimed.

But persons who were in the nightclub during the ordeal had no such questions as they recounted the scary experience. They told a tale that blamed the accused of shooting the others and then turning the gun on himself.

"Steve over the table a drink Hennessy and Red Bull and say him must get the browning and him say if no man say nutten a gunshot," one patron claimed when he spoke to THE STAR shortly after the incident.

The 'browning'

The 'browning', reports say, was dressed in a micro-mini and was said to have been doing the latest dance moves.

"Steve claim say a shoot-out, but a him alone did a bus it and a ask people whe them come from," said the alleged eyewitness.

However, a release from the JDF yesterday stated that the soldier, who is a licensed firearm holder, had been in a shoot-out with other patrons. It also stated that the cause of the fracas is not yet known.

Another release sent yesterday evening from the director of communications for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Karl Angell, stated that the police were appealing for persons who were either inside or near the club at the time of the incident to come forward with information that might assist with the investigations.

The Major Investigation Task Force is investigating the incident.

Davian Kerr, one of the four persons killed in the shootout at the Double Diamond club

A large crowd gathers at the gate of the Boulevard shopping centre in St Andrew yesterday morning after news got out that four people were shot and killed. It is alleged that they were shot by a Jamaica Defence Force soldier at the Double Diamond club in the plaza. Several others are nursing gunshot wounds.

Entertainer Queen Ifrica at the scene. - Norman Grindley