Just a few hours after her 18th birthday, Pia Phillips’ life came to a tragic end. The teenager was killed by a bullet from her father’s licensed firearm after he attempted to save her and her mother from gunmen.

Phillips, who was head girl at Immaculate Conception High School, was returning home from choir practice with her mother when tragedy struck.

Her family would not comment on the incident, but the pall of gloom that hung over their home spoke volumes.

Pia’s sudden and unexpected death has left her friends and schoolmates traumatised and the many tributes posted on her Hi5 page bore testament to this.

Always remember

One friend wrote, “Pia … my God. How me a guh deal wid dis. But I love yah and will miss you. Rest in peace.”

Another post read, “Pia phoned us on her birthday. She was happy and excited … and look now we all won’t see her again but we all love an will always remember u so RIP.”

Police say about 7:30 p.m., Phillips and her mother arrived at their Riverside Drive home in Havendale, Kingston 19. As they were about to enter the house, a red car pulled up. Two men, both armed with guns, exited the car and demanded that they come to them.

Both screamed and ran and Phillip’s father, after hearing the disturbance, pulled his firearm and rushed to his family’s rescue. He, however, reportedly slipped and fell and the gun went off, hitting Pia, who was crouched by the grille. The attackers fled.

Pia was taken to hospital and admitted in serious condition, but succumbed to her injuries yesterday while undergoing surgery.

Courtesy: Jamaica Star