Seven-year-old boy escapes from torched house

A seven-year-old-boy, the son of a man who was killed in an attack yesterday morning in the Bell Rock community off Olympic Way in St Andrew, is being hailed by residents for his bravery.

When our news team visited the community yesterday, amid sadness and the clearing of debris, the youngster was on everybody's lips.

THE STAR understands that the child, who was the only person inside the house, may have witnessed his father being killed.

A resident said: "If him nuh see, him must hear the gunshot dem. Cause him father did just a bring in the bike when him come under attack. Him nuh mek it inside yet, and dem give him five shots at close range then torch the house."

THE STAR was then told that with the house engulfed in flames, the seven-year-old ran through the blaze and managed to jump over the motorcycle and his father's body that was on the ground, before escaping from the scene.

"You think him easy. Him know how fi help himself. Him run from yah suh go straight out to Three Miles where him mother live and go tell her what happened. God is good because nuff pickney woulda scare and burn up in deh or dem kill him when dem see him," another resident said.

PONDERING NEXT MOVE

The child's father, Andrew McLean, otherwise called 'Peter' and 'Killa', was killed minutes after 2 a.m. yesterday.

"After dem kill the man, people hear dem a talk like a di wrong person dem kill and some a say fi light the place. So is like dem come fi somebody but dem woulda kill anything dem see. So, the likkle man brave fi deh inna the house and all that a gwaan outside, and still run through the fire, see him father dead and run to him mother. Him brave fi a likkle youth and that is good," a male resident said.

The incident has left many residents pondering their next move as more than 30 persons are now homeless following the massive inferno.

Superintendent Gary Francis, commanding officer for the St Andrew South Police Division, told our news team that units from the Kingston and St Andrew Fire Department responded to the fire.

"It was then discovered that the body had multiple gunshot wounds. The general area was quiet prior to this incident. We are still investigating to find out what led to this case of murder and then the multiple arson," Francis said.

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) told our news team that the prime minister has been monitoring the situation in Bell Rock.

"The prime minister is tracking the situation and has contacted the police and persons on the ground. The various mechanisms within the constituency have been activated to assist the families who are victims. Shelters are being sought until a permanent solution can be reached," OPM said.