Students, teacher dash for cover

Noel Thompson, Star Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:

Pandemonium broke out at the Farm Primary and Junior High School in St James yesterday when gunmen went on a shooting spree, injuring two persons and killing one.

Dead is 40-year-old Dennis DePass, popularly known as 'Denny', who operated a cook shop close to the school. The two other injured persons, a male and female are vendors.

Reports reaching THE STAR are that students on the morning shift had resumed classes shortly after their morning break, when they heard a barrage of explosions, which sent them, teachers, vendors and residents scampering for cover.

collapsed

The male vendor was awaiting transportation to go downtown Montego Bay, when he was shot in the leg, while the woman was shot in her back as she ran to safety. She ran into the school, up a stairs and dropped on the floor in front of the students and a teacher in the ninth grade classroom.

"Some persons even jumped in a garbage skip for safety. Everybody was shaking. Students and teachers have been seriously traumatised," said a teacher at the institution, who asked not to be named.

"We never expected to see anything like this at our school," the teacher said, adding that not one student turned up for the afternoon session.

"We are not sure if school will be keeping Monday."

The police said that no motive has yet been established for the attack.