CPFSA to facilitate psychosocial support for family of slain 9 year old
Officers from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, CPFSA, are to follow up with the parents of a nine year old boy who was killed in St James to facilitate psychosocial support today.
The child who was killed in Fairfield, St James on Thursday, has been identified as Gabriel King.
Reports are that King and his mother were attacked by two men as she slowed her car to avoid potholes while travelling along a section of the Irwin Main Road.
The men allegedly forced the woman from the vehicle and took off in the car with King still inside.
A subsequent search by the police led to the discovery of the vehicle and child in the back seat with his throat slashed.
In responding to the incident, Education Minister Fayval Williams condemned the frequent attacks on the nation’s children as a manifestation of the worst kind of evil in the society.
Mrs. Williams said the frequency of violent attacks on women and children across the society is highly disturbing, and she cannot imagine what could motivate anyone to carry out such a dastardly act on a young life.
She noted that the CPFSA made initial contact with the family on Thursday and is to follow up on Thursday to provide further services.
Meantime, Mrs Williams also noted the gun attack on a residence in Roehampton, Anchovy, St. James about 2:30 a.m. On Wednesday, in which 15-year-old Toni-ann Reid was murdered along with 25-year-old Oshane Spence.
She said initial reports indicate that the teen had a troubled relationship with her parents and had left home on more than one occasion without permission.
As such, she appealed to families to reach out to CPFSA and the national parenting support commission for help when they are facing challenges with their children.
Mrs Williams extended condolences to the families of the two children, while appealing to anyone who may have information that could help the police in their investigations to share it as quickly as possible.
Meantime, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Karl Samuda has condemned the killing of nine-year-old Gabriel King as an evil and cowardly act against persons with disabilities.
According to Minister Samuda, the news of Gabriel’s killing is deeply mortifying, and is a direct attack on the lives of promising Jamaicans from the disabled community.
He noted that the incident happened at a time, when the government is intensifying its efforts to put systems in place to safeguard the lives and rights of persons with disabilities.