UK girl (8) murdered in Jamaica

An eight-year-old British girl has been shot dead on holiday in Jamaica.

An eight-year-old British girl has been shot dead on holiday in Jamaica.

Reports have named the schoolgirl as Imani Green, who was killed in the town of Duncans on Friday night.

Imani, from Balham, south London, is understood to have died after being shot twice, including once in the head, in what may have been a revenge attack, the BBC has reported.

The young girl was with relatives at a cafe owned by her cousin when a gunman entered and opened fire following an argument.

READ MORE

Three others were injured in the shooting and taken to hospital for treatment but thought to be in a stable condition.

Police told the BBC that there are a number of lines of inquiry, but one theory is that the shooting was in reprisal for an earlier gun attack.

Imani’s sister, Janella Parmer, told the BBC: “We heard gunshots. We ran outside and shouted 'Imani, Imani, Imani'.

“I picked her up off the ground and realised she was still breathing. I flagged down a car and they drove us to hospital. The rest is history.”

Imani arrived on the island with her mother shortly before New Year to stay with relatives.

The Foreign Office has confirmed the death of a British national in Jamaica on Friday, January 11th and said it is providing consular assistance to the family.

Jamaica's security minister, Peter Bunting, condemned the killing.

He told the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper: "The senseless killing of a young, innocent child must outrage all well-thinking Jamaicans, and cause us to join
our security forces in an intensified effort to rid our communities of criminals."

Neighbours in Britain today spoke of their sorrow following the girl's death.

One friend of the family, who asked not to be named, said: "This is a close-knit community, so this is going to hurt us."

Another added: "Nobody wants to speak, she was just a little girl. This is all so sad. We're distraught."

PA