St. James, Jamaica (McKoy’s News) – A night that should have been routine ended in gunfire and tragedy in Reading, St. James, when armed thugs opened fire on a family, killing a woman and seriously injuring a police officer and his young son.
Dead is Latoya Crystal Stephenson, 36, a Human Resource Manager of West Village, St. James.
The brutal incident unfolded around 8:25 p.m. on Saturday night, near the popular Elevate Nightclub. Reports are that Constable Morgan, of the Area 1 Lottery Scam Task Force, had driven to the location with his common-law wife, Stephenson, and their 5-year-old son to collect a car key from a man known only as “Romario.”
“Romario” arrived shortly after and parked behind Morgan’s vehicle.
Stephenson exited the vehicle to collect the key, and as she returned, gunmen from “Romario’s” vehicle opened fire, spraying bullets into the family’s car.
Stephenson was shot in the upper body and collapsed.
Constable Morgan was struck in the back, and the child was shot in the head while seated in the back seat.
Residents rushed to assist, transporting Morgan and his son to hospital where they both underwent emergency surgery and were admitted in serious condition.
Miraculously, the child survived.
Stephenson was transported separately to Cornwall Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The crime scene was riddled with bullet damage, including to the rear windshield and front left window of the family’s car, which was later removed to the Mount Salem Police Station for further processing.
Investigators recovered 14 spent 9mm casings, a bullet fragment, and blood samples from the scene.
The body of Stephenson was later removed to Delapenha Funeral Home, where it was processed pending a postmortem.
As detectives continue their investigation, the hunt is on for “Romario” and any accomplices. The community of West Village is left reeling in shock, mourning a life lost and praying for the recovery of a young child caught in the chaos of gun violence.
McKoy’s News will continue to follow this developing story
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