By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter SYLVIA CLARKE's last memory of her teenage daughter, Kimi-Lee Reid, was a traumatic one.
After hearing that she was shot by another student, near the Norman Manley High School, Ms. Clarke rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), where Kimi-Lee had been taken, only to see her daughter take her last breath.
An emotional Miss Clarke told The Gleaner yesterday that she saw Kimi's eyes roll over, while still lying on the hospital stretcher.
"The doctors say she dead. Ah not even get a chance to talk with her," said Miss Clarke, a resident of Westchester in Portmore, St. Catherine.
Reports are that the 15-year-old schoolgirl, who attended the Norman Manley High School in Kingston, was killed by another student at a house on Delamere Avenue, which is less than 200 metres from the school.
It is alleged that she was shot accidentally while a 15-year-old male student was showing her a gun.
The Gleaner understands that both were inside a two-bedroom house and the male student came out and took the gun from a group of other boys on the corner. He removed the magazine with the ammunition, but was not aware that a bullet was in the chamber, according to reports. The weapon went off while pointed in Kimi's direction.
She was struck in the neck and the bullet exited through her back.
SEARCHING FOR OTHER STUDENT
"We are now looking for the 15-year-old student. We have already spoken with his parent, who gave us the assurance that she will take him in," Detective Inspector Phipps, of the St. Andrew South Homicide Unit, told The Gleaner yesterday.
Kimi's father, Norman Reid, got the stunning news from the school's principal, Veronica Teape, and immediately relayed the message to his common-law wife.
Kimi was a grade nine student on the morning shift. Teachers and family members are still baffled as to why Kimi was visiting the Delamere Avenue premises. The shooting occurred shortly after 3:00 p.m.
"I drop her off at school Tuesday morning and she asked for money to pay for extra lesson. She was a well obedient child, never give me any problem," said Mr. Reid.
This view was supported by the vice-chairman of the Norman Manley High School Board, Garth Shaw, who described her as a very quiet child.
"We spoke with the students at devotion yesterday and warned them that we don't want anybody to go seeking revenge," said Mr. Shaw.
Grief-stricken neighbours in her community said Kimi-Lee was such a quiet person that when she was home, the only places she would go was either church or the shop.
