Teen stabbed multiple times over cell phone

The Westmoreland police have launched a manhunt for a man who reportedly stabbed a minor outside the Westmoreland Parish Court in Savanna-la-Mar yesterday morning.

Investigators say they have not yet ascertained the suspect's identity. Reports are that the 14-year-old boy travelled with his father in a motor truck to the court, where the father had a pending case. The boy was left inside the truck which was parked behind the courthouse. Shortly after 10:30 a.m., he answered a call on his cell phone.

A man armed with a knife crept up beside the truck and attempted to snatch the cell phone from his hand, but the boy resisted the robber, who stabbed him repeatedly.

Dropped the knife

Several eyewitness ran to his rescue, and the attacker dropped the knife on the roadway and fled the scene on foot.

The police and the boy's father were called to the scene, and the wounded child was taken to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, where he was admitted in serious condition.

Head of the Westmoreland police, Superintendent Robert Gordon, told THE STAR that this was a most unfortunate situation, especially as the child almost lost his life over a cell phone.

"This is another instance where persons need to be very vigilant, and observe their surroundings," Gordon stated. "Luckily, the child in question is sturdily built and he managed to fight off the robber, although he was seriously stabbed, and the robber also dropped the weapon which we now have in our possession."

He added "We aim to use surveillance devices in the area to see if we can come up with an identity for the robber, and we expect that we will be able to make a speedy breakthrough into this incident."