The Government of Jamaica is “strongly” condemning the gruesome and unwarranted attack of a 34-year-old woman and her children in Coco Piece, Clarendon.
The deceased are Kemisha Wright, and her three daughters: 15-year-old Kimana Smith; Shemari Smith, 10; and five-year-old Kafana Smith.
Also killed is Smith’s son, one-year-old Kishaun Henry.
Kemisha was studying to be a nurse, and had her final exams to sit in the coming weeks.
Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Horace Chang, described the killing as “an act of savagery and brutality of unequal proportions.
“These were young promising children with their entire lives ahead of them,” said Chnag in a statement.
“Ms Wright was a hard-working and honest young woman who was making a life for herself and her children.
“This barbarity is deplorable. It reflects the epidemic of interpersonal violence that permeates sections of our society. Such utter evil and horror reinforces the need for us to continue to pursue a holistic approach to this disease of interpersonal violence in our society,” he declared.
Chang, who is the Minister of National Security, expressed his personal condolences to the grieving family members.
He says several state agencies will be deployed to provide the family with support.
Rushane Barnett, 23, has been listed as a person of interest in relation to the killings.
