A source at the University Hospital of the West Indies revealed that the Reverend Donald Roberts, pastor of Clifton New Testament Church of God, located on Mannings Hill Road, St Andrew, underwent emergency surgery and they are optimistic he will make a full recovery.

When The Gleaner arrived at the hospital, Roberts was asleep with wounds to his head, face and left hand.

No comment

Throughout the day, friends and well-wishers gathered to comfort his wife and two daughters, one of whom said the family would not make any comment.

Crime officer for St Andrew North, Deputy Superintendent Altamont Campbell, said Roberts had just arrived home when he was confronted by three gunmen.

He said Roberts tried to resist and was stabbed several times. Campbell said two men were being questioned by detectives after they were seen running in the vicinity of the crime scene.

Reflection of society

Administrative Bishop of the New Testament Church in Jamaica and Grand Cayman, Rev Barrington Brown, called the attack a very unfortunate reflection of what's happening in the wider society.

"This tells you that none of us is immune to it so we need to do whatever we can to curb it," said Brown, adding that the family was very traumatised.

A very popular figure in the New Testament Church, Roberts previously served as its national youth director. News of the attack hit the social network site Facebook, where persons requested prayer for the Roberts family at this time.