The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Parent Teacher Association of Queen's College has presented the school with a wreath to honour the life of its murdered fourth grade teacher Joyelle McIntosh, who was shot in her car close to the private school earlier this week. 

Donning purple T-shirts that read: "Peace Begins With Me", a number of school faculty, PTA officials and students from various grade levels - including students from Mrs McIntosh's class - gathered at a flag pole in front of the school's Geoffrey Brown auditorium on Friday morning for a wreath laying ceremony to pay respects to the slain educator.

Mrs McIntosh, 34, and a mother of two, was shot multiple times in her upper body and once in the head at the traffic lights at the intersection of Parkgate and Village Roads on Wednesday night. 

Family and friends of Mrs McIntosh have struggled to cope with what they saw as a "senseless killing" of a woman they described as "a devoted mother and teacher". 

Samita Ferguson, the PTA president, told The Tribune that following Mrs McIntosh's unexpected death, the PTA took it upon itself to present the school with a wreath in honour of Mrs McIntosh's life and service to the school.

"She was a gem to not only students but to the parents, and the wreath presentation was just symbolic of our love and appreciation for her time that she took to impart into the young lives at the school at Queen's College," Mrs Ferguson said. 

"I'm sure the school is doing what is necessary in order to rebound the students in terms of not feeling the pain of the loss. But in terms of the PTA we're going to partner with the school in order to bring some closure to the tragic accident, mishap that just transpired."

Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said Mrs McIntosh was found dead shortly after 8pm on Wednesday when police officers were called to the scene of a reported traffic accident at the traffic lights. On arrival, they found a Toyota Corolla crashed into a wall. 

However, on examining the vehicle, officers found the body of a woman inside with gunshot wounds in her body. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police sources said the victim's young son was in the back seat of the car during the shooting but was not harmed. 

ACP Dean said police have no suspects in custody and no motive for the murder, but they are "leaning towards armed robbery". 

On Thursday, teachers, parents and friends of Mrs McIntosh gathered at the QC campus to pay respects to a "beautiful soul". It was an emotional scene, with parents and students in tears as they tried to come to grips with the incident. 

Andrea Gibson, the college principal, said the students were "extremely traumatised" and faculty have not yet "come to terms" with the tragedy. 

Mrs Gibson said the QC family would use this tragedy to spread the word of peace and "ensure that Joyelle is never forgotten". 

Dr Reginald Eldon, of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church, said he wants the public to remember Mrs McIntosh as an "extraordinary woman" who went above and beyond as a teacher and a mother.

Dr Eldon said the school plans on having a memorial service for Mrs McIntosh "very soon".