Student stabbed in chest, back dies

In Jamaica………….

Stunned by the stabbing death of a student, Education Minister Andrew Holness yesterday called urgently on school administrators and parents to step up searches of children for offensive weapons.

Holness' request came within hours of the incident, as Steer Town, St Ann reeled in shock from the stabbing of Garran Jones, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student of Ferncourt High School in the parish.

"I am very disappointed and disturbed at what has happened. My heart goes out to the parents of that student who was killed," said a sad-faced Holness as he pleaded for more searches at schools.

School had barely started with some classes just finishing Devotion when a public passenger vehicle operating as a school bus reportedly drove onto the compound yesterday to drop off students.

Police said a boy allegedly from the Marcus Garvey Technical High School managed to slip pass security personnel, made his way to Jones' classroom where he confronted and stabbed him.

Jones reportedly used a chair to defend himself and ran from the classroom but was chased onto the playfield where he was again stabbed. He collapsed and was rushed to the St Ann's Bay Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Police said Jones received knife wounds to his chest and back just after 8:30 in the morning. Investigators believe the killing was a result of a feud between students of both schools.

Police were last night searching for two siblings, one a schoolmate of Jones, and the other a student at Marcus Garvey, in connection with the incident that plunged Ferncourt High into mourning.