16-Y-O Was Not Gunned Down by Ex-Boyfriend Says Grandmother “She nah nuh ex-boyfriend” – Watch Video

The grandmother of 16-year-old Tara Dennis has denied initial reports that her granddaughter was gunned down by an alleged ex-boyfriend.

According to the reports, the teen from Grants Bush in Little London, Westmoreland, was fatally shot on her veranda, where she sat with a male companion after arriving home from work on Saturday. The male companion, who was also shot, has since been admitted to the hospital for treatment, and the suspect has not been found.

Tara’s grandmother, Carmen Dennis, spoke to reporters about the heartbreaking incident that occurred at her home. Carmen indicated that her granddaughter had male friends, but people assumed she had a boyfriend.

“No ex-boyfriend, she nah nuh ex-boyfriend… She is just 16 ago 17. Eh nuh have nuh boyfriend,” she told the Jamaica Observer reporters. “You know seh a young people all ova, and dem will have likkle friend, but yuh can’t go tek it seh a yuh boyfriend.”

Tara’s aunt also spoke about the teen’s death, telling the Jamaica Observer, “Jealousy and badmind cause it.” The aunt also shared that she believes Tara’s male companion was the target and not her niece.

When asked about the suspect, Anthony ‘Scliffy’ McNeil, Carmen said that he lives “just across the road.”

Additionally, Carmen shared that her granddaughter lived with her and attended Little London High School. However, the grandmother indicated that financial constraints forced the teen to stop attending school and take up a job as an ice cream server at a café in Negril, where she worked for over a week.

“She seh she want some work because she a guh help me,” Carmen said, expressing that her granddaughter had promised to help take care of her in the future.

Watch the interview with Carmen Dennis below: