Ascot High mourns PE teacher Rasean Beckford after March Pen shooting

Police were still maintaining a presence along March Pen Road in St Catherine on Monday, even as a 48-hour curfew for the area was expected to end that evening. The heightened security followed the killing of Ascot High School physical education teacher Rasean Beckford, also known as Pancho, who police linked to an ongoing dispute involving sections of the community.

Beckford, 35, had worked at the Portmore-based Ascot High for more than a decade and had been a physical education teacher for just over 15 years. He was killed on Friday, hours after leaving the school compound.

According to the police account, Beckford went home to the community known as Africa after work. He later received information that a relative was in difficulty in March Pen, St Catherine. Investigators said that when he arrived at the location, gunmen attacked him and shot him dead.

At Ascot High on Monday, the atmosphere was subdued as staff and students tried to come to terms with the loss. Principal Chanel Albert said Beckford had been at school on Friday and had said goodbye to some colleagues before leaving, with the expectation that he would return after the weekend.

The school suspended normal classes for the day. Only students who were sitting external examinations were on campus, while internal examinations were expected to start later in the week.

Albert said the school was first helping teachers and other staff members process Beckford's death before expanding support to students. Counsellors from the Ministry of Education were present, along with well-wishers and representatives from other schools who came to offer encouragement.

Police said there was tension between Africa, March Pen and the section where Beckford was killed. They believe his murder was connected to the continuing feud involving Africa and other areas along March Pen Road.