Schoolboy stabbed to death in row over girl

Feb 28, 2012 News

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– cops hunt teenage suspect

A 17-year-old schoolboy attending private lessons was stabbed to death at around 18:30 hrs yesterday during a bitter confrontation with another student over a girl.
Anfernee Bowman, of Lot 77 Robb Street, Bourda, was stabbed in the chest, abdomen and right thigh by an 18-year-old student shortly after he had left the popular ‘Mr. Patterson lessons’, in Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt, where he and the suspect were attending Maths classes.
Bowman collapsed a short distance away, near the Festival City entrance, while pursuing his assailant. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation after being taken there in a car.
The suspect fled the scene, and was still at large up to press time. Police checked the teen’s Independence Boulevard, Albouystown home, but found it shut tight.
However, Kaieteur News contacted the suspect’s father shortly after midnight today.
The man said that his son contacted the family by mobile phone shortly after the incident and claimed that he had stabbed Bowman in self defence.
According to the father, the youth said that he was speaking to three females outside the South Ruimveldt classes when Bowman chucked him. The females reportedly parted the youths. The suspect’s father alleged that his son said that Bowman then attacked him with a weapon, stabbing him on the arm in the process.
He said that his son confirmed that he retaliated by stabbing Bowman before fleeing.
“He said that he is badly wounded and cannot move his arm,” the father said.
The father told Kaieteur News that he was about to attend church with his wife when they received the call.
He said that his son has since turned off his mobile phone.
According to the man, he had been searching for several hours for his son in an attempt to take him into the police.
“We are trying to find him and take him to a lawyer,” he said.
Kaieteur News understands that detectives recovered an ice-pick which they believe is the murder weapon.
Bowman, who was a fast bowler for the Malteenoes Sports Club, attended Chase Academic Foundation, Parade Street, Kingston, and Kaieteur News understands that the suspect attended lessons at the same school. Both boys were attending Maths classes at Mr. Dennis Patterson’s Aubrey Barker residence.
Mr. Patterson told Kaieteur News that the incident occurred shortly after he had dismissed the students. He said he was attending to another class so he did not witness the attack. He said that the students would normally stand on his bridge while awaiting transportation to take them home. The confrontation between the victim and suspect occurred in that area.
He said that some students reported that they saw Bowman and the suspect “clinching each other.”
“There was (reportedly) no exchange of words, there were just wrestling each other.”
Kaieteur News was told that the suspect eventually released Bowman and ran into Festival City, via the entrance. The eyewitnesses said that Bowman attempted to pursue the other teen, but then was seen staggering after running about 20 yards. It was then that the students saw traces of blood on Bowman’s clothing.”
According to reports, a woman saw Bowman staggering and grabbed the student, who collapsed in her arms. She then placed the mortally wounded student in a taxi, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at the GPHC.
Mr. Patterson said that he was unaware that the two students had a dispute.
“I never knew any of them to have a problem. I never heard them say anything harsh …they didn’t even sit next to each other. This is a shock to everyone.”
Meanwhile, several of Bowman’s colleagues and relatives rushed to the GPHC as news of the tragedy spread. His parents, Gary and Aileen Bowman could be seen weeping after viewing the body of their only son at the Accident and Emergency Unit.
A tearful Gary Bowman said that his son had been attending lessons for about six months, and he was unaware that he had any dispute with anyone. He was of the view that his son was killed because of his popularity.
A source who knew both boys from the private school they had attended said that the youths were “opposites” in personality.
“He (the suspect) was not focused. He was ‘speedy’, he was missing classes.
The source said that the only problem that Bowman presented was the fact that he was popular with female students.
“He was a handsome youth, he used to dress (well) and the girls were after him.
“He would have done well at the CXC exams. His potential was cut short.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Patterson is now contemplating having students screened and even checked for weapons.
“They will have to be screened periodically, and I may also seek police advice…students of this nature will not be tolerated.”

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