KC principal describes killing of former student athlete as ‘madness’

Administrators at Kingston College (KC) spent yesterday mourning the loss of former student athlete Kevaughn Goldson, who was stabbed to death, reportedly by a woman with whom he was involved, in Jefferson City, Missouri, in the United States, on Monday.

Reports are that Goldson, 23, was involved in a domestic altercation when a knife was used to stab him in the back and chest. The sprinter died while undergoing surgery at hospital.

Goldson was a student athlete at Lincoln University, and so, too, was his romantic partner, Denita Jackson, who police have since charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action, prosecutors told reporters in that state.

Sleuths say the two had a history of domestic violence and that the fatal altercation had a missing bottle of cologne at its centre.

“Court documents state that Jackson said she could hear a roommate talking with someone in their room. She used a hairclip to unlock the door and told the police she found Goldson and the witness in bed, but fully dressed, with the missing bottle of cologne,” one news outlet reported.

“Jackson allegedly jumped onto the bed, grabbed the bottle and Goldson by his shirt, starting the fight ... . Jackson reported that Goldson was on top of her and started to choke her. This is when she told police she grabbed the knife from under the witness’ bed and stabbed Goldson in the back and chest.”

Goldson was a celebrated footballer and athlete during his years at KC, and yesterday, sporting staff who worked with him during his high school years grieved his death.

IN SHOCK

“I’m not the best person to speak with about it as I am still in shock about the passing of Kevaughn,” offered one of his former coaches and close friends at KC.

KC Principal Dave Myrie, in the meantime, labelled Kevaughn’s death an act of madness.

“It is craziness for a youngster like that to be killed in the prime of his life. The whole thing is just madness, and the staff are very cut up about it. Devastated is the better word. He was a well-known youngster,” said Myrie, adding that Goldson had passed for Calabar High School but was later transferred to KC.

“He played football and then went over to track and field. He did well academically also, and as far as I am aware, had quite a future ahead of him. He was training very hard, doing very well, pursuing his degree, and then this happened,” said Myrie.

He said the KC community is prepared to reach out to Goldson’s family to find out and provide whatever assistance is needed.

The Gleaner was unable to make contact with any member of his family up to late yesterday afternoon.

“It is not easy to lose a child. The expectation is that parents are supposed to die, leaving their children. So when a parent loses a child, especially in this manner, it is a very difficult thing. It is sad,” Myrie said.

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com