BARRETT TOWN, St James - JAMAICA (SENSELESS KILLING OVER A CHAIR) : 12 y-o student, Shyheim Lewis stabbed to death in class...Lewis's distraught mother, Jacinth Johnson, told the Jamaica Observer that her son's life could have been saved if the teachers had taken him to hospital earlier. "...Dem cut him and teachers say dem don't want dem car to blood up, so dem allow the child to bleed to death," the mother alleged. "When wi go over deh, di pickney dem a bawl, and di teacher dem [just] stand up so," claimed the grieving mother.

BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter hinesh@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, March 31, 2015

BARRETT TOWN, St James — There was mourning yesterday at the Barrett Town All-Age School, as well as in the wider community, after a grade six student was fatally stabbed by his classmate shortly after break in the morning.

Jacinth Johnson, mother of 12-year-old Shyheim Lewis who was
 fatally stabbed by his classmate, is comforted yesterday by her spouse
 Linton White outside the Barrett Town All Age School as Police
 Superintendent Gary Francis looks on. (PHOTO: PHILLIP LEMONTE)

The deceased has been identified as Shyheim Lewis, also called Chin, 12, of the Jenkins Corner neighbourhood here in Barrett Town.

The child's alleged killer, who is reportedly from the Vietnam section of Barrett Town, was taken into custody by the Barrett Town police.

It was alleged that about 10:30 am a fight broke out between Lewis and one of his classmates over a seat, during which a knife was brought into play. Lewis, who was stabbed and injured on the neck, was taken to hospital where he died.

Students who were overheard relating the incident said the two boys who, both of whom sat the Grade Six Achievement Test last week, had a heated argument which escalated into a fight.

"Him tell him say he will kill him and run go a him yard," one of the students was overheard saying.

The students said that shortly after Lewis was stabbed he ran downstairs where he collapsed.

When the Observer visited the school, where a large crowd had gathered, there was a large pool of blood in the area where the student collapsed.

Lewis's distraught mother, Jacinth Johnson, told the Jamaica Observer that her son's life could have been saved if the teachers had taken him to hospital earlier.

"...Dem cut him and teachers say dem don't want dem car to blood up, so dem allow the child to bleed to death," the mother alleged. "When wi go over deh, di pickney dem a bawl, and di teacher dem [just] stand up so," claimed the grieving mother.

She also alleged that two of her other children have been the victims of violence at the school in the past.

"... Mi have a son in grade two and dem fling stone and lick him down over there. Den dem stab mi daughter with pencil down here. What kind a school this?" she questioned. more