MARKED FOR DEATH - Cops say woman murdered in church was targeted by dead spouse’s family

The Trelawny police have confirmed that one of the three men who was taken into custody in connection with yesterday's murder of Andrea Lowe-Garwood in Trelawny is the victim's stepson.

Head of the Trelawny police, Superintendent Carlos Russell, told THE STAR that he is pleased with the swift work carried out by the investigating team.

"This is a most unfortunate situation, and maybe the first of its kind in Jamaica where someone has actually being murdered while worshipping inside a church, but I must commend the hard work of the detectives in making such a speedy breakthrough and taking the three suspects into custody, one of whom turned out to be the stepson of the victim," he said.

The police picked up one of the men in Ramble Hill community, at Bogue, while the stepson and a third man were picked up in Rose Heights, St James, during two operations. The gunman is however still at large.

Receiving death threats

Jeffrey Garwood, Lowe-Garwood's husband, died in a crash last year in St James and it is alleged that she started receiving death threats soon after.

"She even had to ask police officers to escort her to his funeral in Hanover, because she was told that if she turned up at his funeral she would be killed," a relative told THE STAR. "Andrea has reported the threats to the police on numerous occasions."

Reports are that about 10:30 a.m. Lowe-Garwood was among those worshipping at the Agape Christian Fellowship Church in Falmouth when a man entered the building, and sat in a bench behind her. During the praise and worship segment, the man reportedly pulled a handgun and fired multiple shots hitting Lowe-Garwood to her upper body, before running from the building and escaping in a white Toyota Allion motor car. Lowe-Garwood was rushed to the Falmouth hospital where she was pronounced dead.

A police source told THE STAR that they are fully aware of the threats that Lowe-Garwood had been receiving, and based on this, were able to make the early breakthrough.