(Jamaica Observer) LUCEA, Hanover — Pandemonium reigned at a crowded plaza here yesterday afternoon when a young man allegedly went berserk and used a knife to fatally stab his estranged girlfriend — who was carrying their nine-month-old baby in her arms at the time — and a security guard.
The enraged man, Rodney Cameron, also reportedly stabbed his ex-lover’s sister and another man before slashing his own throat.
The deceased have been identified as 23-year-old, Cameka Duhaney, also called Tibs of an Askenish, Hanover, address and 43-year-old security guard Sydney Smith of Church Street, Lucea.
Cameron, who was taken to hospital in Lucea, has since been transferred to the Cornwall Regional where he was admitted in a serious condition.
Meanwhile, the two other injured persons were treated and released from hospital.
It is understood that Duhaney, who was unemployed, had been living with her sister, 26-year-old cosmetologist Racquel Campbell in Esher, Lucea, for the past month.
She had reportedly fled there from the home she shared with Cameron in Askenish claiming that he constantly physically abused her.
Yesterday, Duhaney was at her sister’s workplace when, shortly after 12:00 noon, Cameron came to collect the infant and take him to his home as the former lovers had planned.
But, according to the dead woman’s sister, Cameron refused to take the baby and an argument ensued.
“How it started, the guy came to look for the baby. The girl bring the baby to him and he refused to take the baby. I went outside when I heard the loud talking and said to the youth, ‘if you are taking the baby, take him, and if you are leaving him, leave’,” the distraught woman told the Jamaica Observer.
She said she encouraged her sister to head home with the infant, but Cameron then insisted he would take the child home after all.
However, as he was being handed his child, he reportedly drew a knife and started to inflict multiple stab wounds on his estranged girlfriend. The baby fell to the ground.
Campbell said her attempts to stop her sister’s attacker earned her wounds herself. She later received seven stitches at hospital for a wound she received to the fingers on her right hand which she had held up to ward off a thrust from the angry knife-wielder.
She said that the man set upon her with a fury as she grabbed up her sister’s baby and beat a hasty retreat into the hairdressing parlour. She had to lock herself inside, as Cameron stabbed the door repeatedly.
His anger still unabated, Cameron reportedly turned his attention back to the mutilated Duhaney and he attempted to cut her throat.
A man who tried to stop him was stabbed in his chest by Cameron.
Smith, a security guard on the plaza who also went to their rescue, was fatally stabbed by the infuriated Cameron, who then slashed his own throat in front of horrified onlookers who had amassed on the plaza.