By DANA SMITH
Tribune Staff Reporter
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
SHOCKED family and friends are grieving after a father of two reportedly shot himself in the head.
The shooting took place around 9am yesterday inside the victim’s home in the Perpall Track area on Sherman Avenue off Ferguson Road.
The 31-year-old, identified by family as Jamal Kemp, was the father of two young children - a four-year-old girl and a boy, aged three.
His wife, who did not want to be identified, told the Big T Mr Kemp was under a lot of stress and worked two jobs at Compass Point Resort and Albany’s Footprints restaurant.
Fighting back tears, she said: “I spoke to him 10 minutes before he did this.”
Several neighbours and family friends were also in shock.
A friend of Mr Kemp, who was also in tears, described him as quiet, and said: “He liked to work and he liked his family.”
Another grieving family friend said the body was discovered by the family after they heard a shot from inside their home.
“They were all in the car getting ready to leave and he said he had to go inside and get something,” he said.
“Then, they heard a shot.”
Police inspector Chrislyn Skippings pleaded with any members of the public who may be going through a stressful time to seek help.
“I would encourage you to use the agencies that we have available here,” she said.
“We have the community counselling assessment centre, we have the crisis centre, you have pastors, you have guidance counsellors, you have family members, there may be other persons in society who you look up to who can provide you with the needed advice that can help you through this time.
“Situations and trials come to make you stronger, and so I just want to encourage persons to reach out to the relevant agencies, find someone you can talk to. You need to vent, you need to let it out. Problems have always been here and they will continue to be here. The thing is, you need to know how to manage them.”
She offered condolences to Mr Kemp’s family on behalf of the police and said the death had not yet been classified as a suicide.
“We’re in the preliminary stages of our investigation,” she said.
Sources said Mr Kemp shot himself in the left side of his head and a silver, pistol-grip shotgun was found at the scene.
Comments
TalRussell 11 years, 2 months ago
Tribune isn't it bad enough to publish the name of the suicide victim without resorting to the lowest form of sensational journalism, rushing your photographer to the scene to capture the faces of grieving family members?
Very few of us will pass through life without being touched by the suicide of a family member, freind or colleague. We quickly learn that is never the result of a single factor or event. .
Tribune why not utilize equally allocated space on your pages, to educate your readers about what is contributing to the skyrocketing rise in suicides across our Bahamaland?
tonymontana 11 years, 2 months ago
The plp . I remember attending a rally here in free port when the member from west end said that persons were killing them self in record number under the fnm , so it goes to say that the same thing is happening under this regime , perhaps the bill boards need to come back up, sad to see this still happening in our country i pray the family find some solace .
akbar 11 years, 2 months ago
This becoming to common in our society. People losing hope. Their is something fundamentally wrong here and we need to seriously address it.Many of us have been through some trying times and I can guarantee quite a number of us have thought about the same route. The difference being somewhere along the line a glimmer of hope shone it's way through and we realize "this too shall pass". My deepest condolences to the family because for those left behind often the question is "what could I have done different?" We need to be more open about mental health in this country and I agree with TalRussell we need to use every media and social outlet to highlight this troubling and vexing problem and try to render some hope to the hopeless. I too pray that the family find some solace.
tonymontana 11 years, 2 months ago
this is an excellent platform for Glennis Hannah Martin to speak on an too. I remember her being suspended for two days from the house of assembly for trying to address the death of a young man in police custody( what ever became of the report madam coroner) She claimed that more person were loosing their live under the former administration and blamed the government of the day for this. she lost a husband under suspicious circumstances and a brother from the same law firm, all in a matter of months , this to me should spark an intense investigation not only by her but the police force , Mrs Martin this is your platform run with it .
nationbuilder 11 years, 2 months ago
Everyone should read this column by Sharon Turner on Suicide and Depression. It really opened my eyes and gives alot of help to people who are hurting and who know persons who are hurting. Now I understand some things a whole lot better - http://www.thereal242.com/?p=1371">http://www.thereal242.com/?p=1371
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