Tavia Peterson, Gleaner Writer

Linda Purcell is supported by community members after breaking down after viewing the bodies of her daughter Maureen Bennett, 47,and her seven-year-old granddaughter, Damone Skyers, who were burnt to death in their house in the Torrington Park community, yesterday morning. Gunmen set fire to the house and opened fire on the building as the two attempted to escape the blaze. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.

For several months, seven-year-old Damone Skyers had been expressing her fear and speaking with her grade-two teacher about the horrifying incidence of violence in the Torrington Park Housing Scheme, lower St. Andrew, where she lived with her mother, Maureen Bennett.

Although she wanted so badly to move out of the tough inner-city community to a safer neighbourhood, that dream came to an end yesterday morning when her worst fears were realised.

Both her remains and her mother's were removed from the one-bedroom concrete structure they occupied. According to the police, their house was firebombed by heavily armed gunmen who invaded the community during the wee hours of yesterday morning.

"Her body language suggested that she wanted to move out of the area. She preferred Franklin Town where she was living first," said one of her schoolteachers, Jacinth Watson, who spoke with The Gleaner yesterday.

Reports are that their house was targeted and, when the gunmen, numbering about 12, set fire to the structure, Damone and her mother made an attempt to escape from the blazing building. However, the gunmen opened fire on them,forcing mother and daughter back inside.

The vicious attack brought back memories of a similar incident which took place on October 6, 2005, about two miles away on Barnes Avenue, off Maxfield Avenue, Kingston, where 10-year-old Sasha Kay Brown, her grandparents and aunt, perished at their home which was fire-bombed by gunmen.

Residents who attempted to assist in that incident, were also fired on by the gunmen. Neighbours listened as Sasha Kay cried for help, until her voice faded in the blaze.

Mrs. Watson's vivid recollection of Damone was that she was a reserved person who performed at an average level.

In a soft, sombre tone, her classmate Elverado, with whom she sat many times in class, said he was sad about Damone's passing.

"It was just yesterday we were playing before she left in the taxi. The last thing she said to me before she left yesterday was 'stop hitting me in my head nuh Elverado!' I am very sad to hear that she is gone."

Elverado said that, many times they played "hide and seek" and "mama lashy" together. The eight-year-old also said they were best friends and she was a very nice person.

The bodies of Bennett and Skyers were found in their bathroom. The Denham Town Police are now investigating.