Attempted murder, suicide in Manchester

Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer

A man committed suicide yesterday morning in Comfort district, Manchester, after attempting earlier to murder a son, boyfriend, and grandmother of his ex-girlfriend.

The reign of terror began about 3 a.m. and when it was over two hours later, Deslyn Gordon, a 59-year-old vendor, a man who is the father of Gordon's grandson, and Jahleal Steers, 15, were left suffering from machete wounds. The attacker, Kevin Hollingsworth, 28, of no fixed address, later hanged himself.

Steers, who is a student at the Porus High School, told The Sunday Gleaner that he was in his bed asleep, when he woke up after having difficulty breathing to find Hollingsworth's hands over his mouth and around his neck. The still shaking and frightened Steer said at first he thought he was having a nightmare before struggling to free himself from the attacker's grip. He managed to get free and leaped through a window and ran to neighbours while shouting for help.

Hollingsworth, who had reportedly gained entry through a bathroom window, then proceeded to attack Gordon, the grandmother of his five-year-old son. The child was not harmed.

Personnel at the Mandeville Regional Hospital said Gordon had chop wounds all over her body and was in serious to critical condition. A man who is said to be the boyfriend of Hollingsworth's ex-girlfriend was also chopped on the shoulders and other parts of his body.

According to persons on the scene, the quick response of neighbours and other family members caused Hollingsworth to cease his attack and flee to nearby premises while firing several shots at them. He is alleged to have later cut a clothes line and used it to hang himself from an ackee tree.

A member of the Mandeville police said that Hollingsworth was recently released on bail after being in custody for inflicting wounds to the throat of his ex-girlfriend. They said that he had no fixed address and had carried out a similar attack when he was in neighbouring Clarendon. The police, however, expressed doubt that Hollingsworth was the person who fired the gunshots heard during the incident. They said no gun was recovered.

Some 10 persons have lost their lives in incidents of murder or suicide in the parish during the last three weeks.

Hollingsworth was recently released on bail after being in custody for inflicting wounds to the throat of his ex-girlfriend.