- RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Most Rev. Lawrence A. Burke (second right), Archbishop of Kingston, and Father William Russell (third left), embrace mourning members of the Missionaries of the Poor on North Street, Kingston, yesterday after the killing of two members of the order on Thursday night.
Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
USUALLY PEOPLE go to the Missionaries of the Poor residence on North Street, Kingston, for comfort. But yesterday it was the brothers at the Roman Catholic complex who were seeking solace, following the mysterious deaths of two trainee priests who were shot and killed on the compound Thursday night.
Reports are that Brothers Suresh Barwa, 31, and Marco Candelario Laspura, 22, were among 15 other brothers washing dishes in the kitchen when a single bullet punched a small hole into Barwa's head.
The bullet went through and struck Laspura who was standing beside him.
"Brother Suresh died on the floor in the kitchen, while Brother Laspura died about 1:00 a.m. at the Kingston Public Hospital," said one of the mourning brothers who spoke with The Gleaner yesterday.
Emotions ran high during a visit from Archbishop Lawrence Burke and other high-ranking members of the Roman Catholic Church. The archbishop was embraced by the brothers and during the process one wept aloud and had to be consoled. The residence was also visited by National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips.
"After the shooting, we had a vigil and prayed," said one of the young priests.
While the police are yet to establish the motive, Senior Superintendent Calvin Benjamin said investigators were awaiting the doctor's report, which would help them determine the direction from which the shot was fired.
Up to yesterday afternoon, SSP Benjamin and his team of investigators were still probing the residence searching for clues.
"We have swabbed the window that was open and, as we speak, we are interviewing the other brothers who were inside the kitchen when the incident occurred," said SSP Benjamin.
Brother Barwa arrived in the island from the Philippines four months ago, while Brother Laspura, who is from India, came here two years ago. The Gleaner was told that the priests had just concluded a send off party for another brother who was scheduled to leave for Uganda.
"This incident will make the brothers more strong," said Roman Catholic priest Father Richard Ho Lung yesterday.
DIED WITH SMILES ON THEIR FACES
He described the slain brothers as very beautiful people. According to Father Ho Lung, the young priests died with smiles on their faces, an indication of total peace and acceptance.
"Brother Marco wanted to serve God so badly, he would die for Christ," he said.
He stressed that the incident would not force the missionaries to relocate or become fearful in any way.
Father Ho Lung said he believed the shot came from across the road from the brothers' residence.
"I don't know if it was a deliberate attack," he said. "If it is, then I will pray for the attacker(s), we don't know if it was a stray bullet."
The kitchen is located on the ground floor, nearest to the intersection of North and Hanover streets. It is shadowed by a wall which is more than 10-feet high, and there is a huge metal gate.
Thursday night's incident has led Father Ho Lung to believe that the upper section of Hanover Street is extremely dangerous. Three weeks ago a woman and her two sons were killed at a tenement on Hanover Street. A week later three others were killed at the same premises.
Several priests have been murdered in Ja over the years
On April 20, 1994 Father Vincent Power 62, was found with his throat cut inside the St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church in Trelawny.
Howard Rochester, 40, of the St Joseph's Cure, in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, was found with gunshot wounds to the head and body on October 26, 2000, along the Hartlands main road in the parish. His red Mitsubishi motor car was stolen. On the night of June 20, 2001, shortly after 9:00 p.m., Father Martin Royackers was fatally shot in his home in Annotto Bay, St. Mary. He was 41.
