Jamaican woman gunned down in US

Family and friends of 23-year-old Shanae Smith, a Jamaican who was living in Lithonia, Georgia, in the US, are reeling from the shock and devastation of her untimely death.

Smith, who they said was known for her cheerful demeanour and kind heart, died after receiving a gunshot wound to the head on Saturday, allegedly at the hands of her boyfriend. Both Smith and the man, who has been identified as Kahire Schloss are from Old Harbour, St Catherine. Up to press time, there were conflicting reports as to whether he had been held by authorities. According to relatives, Smith, who had lived in Lithonia since 2022, was reportedly planning to leave Schloss yesterday.

Smith's mother Taneisha Williams said that she received a call from Schloss at 1:39 p.m., at which time he allegedly confessed to the shooting.

"It was his 17-year-old brother who heard the shot and discovered her on the floor and called emergency who probably took 10 minutes to get to her," said Smith's cousin Karayan Holt. She later spoke to the doctor because Williams couldn't emotionally handle the conversation. Despite efforts by doctors, Smith succumbed to her injuries around 5 p.m.

"She [the doctor] said even if they performed CPR on her, she just wouldn't survive," Holt said. Social media platforms overflowed with condolences and tributes to Smith, with many expressing shock and sadness over her tragic demise. But as some questioned the nature of Smith's relationship, Colleen, Smith's cousin, urged the public to refrain from spreading misinformation.

"She did not deserve her death. At 23? She was an angel on Earth, and at 50 I have never seen or heard of her disrespecting anyone," she said. "All I want for people to do is stop spreading false news and stop speculating because she [Shanae] never used to tell people her business."