With the new Government still in its teething stages, an alarming trend of violence among teens has seemingly resurfaced.

Over the last eight days, The Gleaner has been made aware of at least four serious incidents implicating teenagers, an increase over the last few months.

The first of the harrowing incidents took place at the Albion Primary and Junior High School, where 14-year-old Percival Crewe of Paradise/Norwood in St. James was fatally stabbed by a 16-year-old boy. The teen is now in police custody and has been formally charged with murder. He is booked to appear in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court today.

Schoolgirl wounded

Before the public was able to catch its breath, two female students from a high school in St. James were yesterday charged with the alleged wounding of another schoolgirl.

The Gleaner understands that the charges stem from a fight involving the three girls last Thursday, September 27, at the St. James Parish Library.

A knife was reportedly used to stab the third girl, who had a dispute with the two accused.

In an unrelated incident in Grants Pen last Friday, 18-year-old André Thomas was pronounced dead after being shot by police.

The police say André was part of a group of men who opened fire on them. The Bureau of Special Investigations has opened a probe into the incident.

Yet another statistic

The stories of teen violence has not stopped there either, as 17-year-old Kemar Codner was yet another statistic in last week's spurt.

The young man from Frazer Avenue, Westport, in Portmore, St. Catherine, was charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

According to police reports, Codner was riding a Yamaha motorcycle when he was stopped and a Bryco 9mm pistol with two cartridges were found in his possession.

Deputy Commissioner Mark Shields of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has been quick to point out, though, that there might not be an upward trend, and the statistics will have to be watched for a while longer before conclusions can be drawn.

"It may be that kids are back at school and it may be that these things are just playing out in the schools now that they are there," said Shields.