ANNOTTO BAY, St, Mary — Loud explosions early yesterday morning drove fear into the hearts of residents of this seaside town on Jamaica’s north-eastern coast.
After they called the police at approximately 6:15, their fear gave way to shock with the gruesome discovery of the bodies of 62-year-old Albert Pryce, 25-year-old Rushelle Williams, and her nine-month-old daughter Aleir Sewell in Pryce’s house on Fort George Road.
All three had gunshot wounds.
Pryce and the baby were reportedly found on the bed, while Williams was said to have been found on the floor in the room. The police are awaiting further examinations to determine if the child was directly shot, or if she was hit by the same bullet that killed Pryce.
The killings remain a mystery, but the investigators said they have information which suggests they stemmed from a domestic dispute. Pryce’s son, Aubyn, said when he received news that his father had died, his first thought was that it due to illness.
“I believed it was illness, because he’s not involved in anything. He is humble and hard-working,” the younger Pryce said. He said his father shared a close relationship with one of his sisters who called him every night, but the last time they spoke he had not given an indication of experiencing problems.
The dead man’s sister, Winnifred Clarke, said the death of her brother was a shock to the community. “He was jovial. He was not a wrongdoer; it was from work to his home,” she said. While people in the community spoke about Pryce, his family members said they did not know Williams.
“This morning mi know about she,” Clarke said. Pryce’s children also said they did not know Williams, who is from Portland. It is believed that Pryce shared a visiting relationship with Williams, who turned up at his home Wednesday evening with her daughter.
Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams, who visited the scene yesterday, called on Jamaicans to find peaceful ways to solve their problems. Stating that it may have been a domestic situation which led to yesterday’s killings, he said the police will do whatever it takes to find the killer or killers. Dr Williams called on residents to tell the police what they know.
The St Mary police are investigating.