Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterTHE GRUESOME double murder of a retired hospital supervisor and her mentally ill son Thursday night, has cast a shadow of gloom over the small inner-city community of Fourth Avenue, Vineyard Town in eastern Kingston.
Delma McKeller, 60, and her 40-year-old son David McKeller, were reportedly chased, cornered and executed in the bedroom and living room, respectively, of the house they shared. They were slain by a group of heavily-armed gunmen, who went directly for them.
"We are not ruling out anything at this moment, but from what we have seen and understand, it does not seem to be political," Acting Senior Superintendent of Police Calvin Benjamin, Area 4 Crime Officer, told The Gleaner yesterday.
Reports are that Mrs. Keller, an ardent Christian, saw the gunmen coming and ran into the bedroom. The group which numbered about seven chased her and despite begging for her life, the men had no mercy. They shot her several times in the head, mouth, chest and back.
The killers then went into the living room where her son was hiding and reportedly sprayed him with bullets from the high-powered weapons they carried. Both mother and son died on the spot.
The police said Mrs. McKeller died
while stooping in a corner, with one hand in the air clutching a bunch of keys, as if she was begging the gunmen not to kill her. One police officer who viewed the body said the bullets shattered her teeth.
According to police sources close to the investigation, two television sets were stolen from the McKeller's home. However, they said this does not prove robbery was the motive for the killings.
Preliminary investigations have resulted in the discovery of more than 50 assorted spent shells. Senior investigators have also traced the route from which the men approached the house, the evidence suggesting that they came from the Jacques Road end.
Police reports said the shooting began at about 10:10 p.m. and that the men gained entry to the McKeller's home by forcing their way through a window.
The Kingston East Homicide team are yet to established a motive for the killing. This is the 12th case of double murder since January, which has pushed the murder toll to over 420 since the start of the year.
