Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Pauline Watson breaks down while talking about her husband Rupert Watson who was killed on Monday night while at a Christmas party at the Eltham Park Primary School in a double murder. At right is one of his five children - six year-old Brandy - at their home in Kennedy Lane, Gordon Pen, St. Catherine, yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

While hundreds of Jamaicans were celebrating Christmas at various social events and planned parties islandwide on Monday, it was a bloody affair for residents of Gordon Pen in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. The violence, which has devastated the community for several months, claimed the lives of two men, who were patrons at a party.

Dead are Rupert Watson, also known as 'Sam', a 56-year-old labourer, and 27-year-old Geoffrey Thompson, also called 'Bigga', both of Kennedy Lane, Spanish Town.

Fragile peace pact

The killings have not only left several persons shaken, but there is fear that the fragile peace existing in some parts of Spanish Town, may now be broken. Reports are that about 11:00 p.m., a party was in progress at the Eltham Park Primary School when gunmen invaded the premises, reportedly looking for men who they suspected to be involved in a previous shooting incident.

Allegations are that the suspects were not seen, so in reprisal, the gunmen turned their weapons on Thompson and Watson, who they claimed were from the same community where the suspects came from.

"The people did a enjoy themselves when some man just come start shooting. It was like a stampede after dat," said one resident.

Principal of the school, Meverley Hall, said that no permission had been given for a dance to be held at the school. "They came early and made requests for a treat to be held for the children but at that hour (time of the shooting), the treat would have been over."

She said this latest incident has added some stress to the school as it was just over a week ago that the treasurer of the parent-teachers' association was killed by gunmen.

Detective Sergeant Fitz Richards told The Gleaner that the incident was fuelled by a gang feud in the community and that the police would continue to operate to bring some order to the situation.

Yesterday, the area remained tense while the police maintained a strong presence in the community.