By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterALL HELL broke loose at the Bethel Born Again True Faith Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ in Papine, St. Andrew, when a lone gunman killed 56-year-old Ena Grant during a Sunday night service. Nothing could have prepared the packed congregation for the terror that was unleashed as the attacker pumped three bullets into her body.
DOUBLE ATTEMPT
"When he drew the gun and fired the first shot, we began to plead the blood of Jesus Christ and the gun stick. He backed out of the church, then ran in again and fired two more shots," said Hyacinth Lewis, a member of the church.
"I believe it was the last round of shots that killed her," she added.
The shooting occurred shortly after 9:00 p.m. while an elder was at the altar preaching. Reports are that the gunman walked to the side as if he was going to the altar, then made a sudden turn and grabbed Ms. Grant. He shot her in the mouth first.
At this point, reports are that the congregation, comprising mostly non-Christians, erupted into screaming and shouting, with persons fleeing in separate directions.
After the shooting, the gunman walked out of the church into the darkness of the Land Lease community.
According to Ms. Lewis, the church was constructed in the area about three months ago and the aim was to improve the social ills of the depressed community.
REPRISAL POSSIBLE MOTIVE
"Recently, we started a Saturday programme in the area, where we keep classes and the people are enthusiastic about it," said Miss Lewis.
Although she was not baptised at that church, Ms. Grant had been attending the newly-built church since its inception. She would normally journey from Kintyre to Land Lease every Sunday.
The police are yet to establish a motive for the killing, but The Gleaner understands that it could be a reprisal, related to recent shooting incidents in Kintyre, St. Andrew.
