Glenroy Sinclair and Michelle-Ann Letman, Gleaner Writers

The Accident and Emergency (A&E) department at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) was the scene of a bizarre shooting incident on Wednesday night, which left the son of a policeman dead and a woman constable, staff members and several patients at the hospital traumatised.

Reports are that 30-year-old Omar Graham grabbed a woman constable's firearm from its holster. One of her colleagues, who was nearby, pulled his firearm and faced Graham.

All this was happening inside the A&E department before several screaming patients and medical practitioners. Also present was Graham's father, a subofficer assigned to the St. Andrew South Police Division.

As the screams and shouts echoed across the department, more policemen came running. Reports reaching The Gleaner are that by this time, relatives, medical practitioners and policemen, who knew Graham's father, began pleading with other officers not to shoot, while they tried to persuade Graham to hand over the gun.

Graham instead turned the gun to his head and fired a single bullet, falling to the ground. It was an emotional scene, according to an officer who visited the hospital.

"It was an unfortunate incident," commented Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) George Quallo.

No blame for woman constable

Responding to questions as to whether it was a case of negligence on the part of the woman constable, SSP Quallo said he would not ascribe any blame to her.

"Her firearm was pinned in the holster. Based on how it happened, there was very little she could do," said SSP Quallo.

Reports are that Graham was so swift, that even his relatives who were there with him did not realise what was happening until the incident occurred. He had reportedly been taken to the hospital for treatment in relation to depression.

"The woman constable has since received counselling and will continue to do so, while our chaplaincy unit has been brought in to offer whatever assistance they can to hospital staff and patients who have been affected by the incident," said SSP Quallo.

In the meantime, Director of Clinical Services at the UHWI, Dr. Trevor McCartney, said yesterday that operations at the A&E department were back to normal. Dr. McCartney said traumatised staff members were receiving counselling from psychologists and psychiatrists.

At Graham's Deanery Road home in Kingston, family members and friends were still in shock. Ingrid Graham disclosed that her brother had been suffering from depression, but was unable to explain why he was depressed.

"Him neva talk to me bout it," said an emotional Ms. Graham.