28-year-old shot dead in Jamaica, suspect believed to be an abusive ex-boyfriend

Chanel Smith, a St Elizabeth teacher killed outside her school gate on Tuesday, was a domestic abuse victim. She was brutally shot and murdered right outside the Sandy Bank School in St Elizabeth. As per reports, two men opened fire at her as she approached the schoolyard.

Vernon Smith, the young woman's father, stated that she has been suffering through hell since 2019. He said that an ex-boyfriend had threatened her on multiple occasions.

He said once his daughter's abusive boyfriend forcefully entered their house at night and started misbehaving with their daughter.

"When I arrived, I noticed the man and asked, "What are you doing here in my house?" I told him to get out of my house or otherwise, and he turned around and asked me how I got this."

The abusive spouse left following a heated discussion between Smith. The father stated he and his daughter went to the Treasure Beach Police Station to report the incident.

He told local media that his daughter, a former Bethlehem Moravian College student, suffered in silence for a long time before confiding in him about her problems. He claimed that her ex-boyfriend once went to the school campus where his daughter worked, grabbed her by the throat, and tried to choke her.

"They phoned me, and I called the cops, and the cops went there and warned him," Smith explained.

The police have not revealed a motive for the homicide. Furthermore, there is no evidence that horrific attack was related to her violent relationship.

The St Elizabeth police have named a Manchester man as a person of interest as the inquiry continues. He is reported to visit Royal Flat and Christiana in Manchester, according to the police.

While police investigate the brutal murder, which is the parish's 21st since the beginning of the year, the bereaved father calls on the government to impose harsher penalties on offenders.