9-y-o girl killed by fishing gun

Residents in Middlesex in St Elizabeth are still struggling to come to terms with the death of nine-year-old Monique Brown.

The Holland Primary School student died on Saturday after being shot with her father's fishing gun. Her teenage brother was taken for questioning by the police.

It is alleged that the siblings were playing with the device when it went off.

Yesterday, several shocked residents were seen standing outside the gate to the yard where the incident occurred.

The yard was deserted, and residents said the entire family had gone to the Black River Police Station, where the teen was being questioned.

Police report that shortly after 3 p.m., Monique's mother, Stacy-Ann Brown, was at home with her children when she decided to take a shower.

Screamed for help

While inside the bathroom, she herd Monique crying out, and rushed out to investigate. She then discovered her with blood coming from her mouth and upper back.

The frightened woman held the wounded child in her arms and screamed for help, at which point several neighbours ran to her assistance.

The police were summoned and upon arrival, they took Monique to hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The scene was also processed.

One community member who goes by the name 'Rasta', said he was in his tailor shop when he heard the screams.

"But it was another neighbour who run come call mi an wi both run go dung a Stacy yard, an see har a bawl out, wid the little girl crouched down in har hand," he said. "All this time wi see blood a come out a di little girl mouth, but all a wi think seh a sick she did sick, an maybe a vomit blood. So wi just a call di numba dem fi har, an every numba wi call wi still naw get nobody."

Residents said that Monique was very kind, jovial, and friendly with everyone in the community, so much so that they nicknamed her 'Nurse'.