Jamaica: Prison officers killed in murder-suicide in front their 12-year-old daughter

Onlookers at the scene of the murder-suicide on Waltham Park Road in St Andrew – Gladstone Taylor photo

(Jamaica Gleaner) A correctional officer this morning shot and killed his estranged wife, also a correctional officer, on Waltham Park Road in St Andrew as she headed to work.

It happened in front of their 12-year-old daughter who has been left traumatised.

It is reported that Rouleene Clarke-Gowans, 42, and her husband, Patrick Gowans recently separated and the woman moved out of the house they shared.

According to one witness, around 7 o’clock, the woman was seen running with her hands in the air as she pleaded “no, no, no!”

He said the man then opened fire hitting her in her head and she collapsed.

The witness said the man then went over the woman and fired several other shots hitting the woman before he turned the weapon on himself.

The police recovered a Browning pistol from the scene.​

Clarke-Gowans worked at the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre, while her husband worked at the Horizon Adult Remand Centre.

It is understood that for some time, Gowans had being threatening his estranged wife.

He even reportedly turned up at her workplace, assaulted her and threatened to kill her.

However, more than a month ago when she left the home they shared, it is reported that they arrived at an arrangement for their child to spend two weeks with each parent on a rotating basis.

Gowans was taking the child to school this morning when he killed her mother.

The couple had been married for about 15 years.