There are hopes for the full recovery of a one-year-old infant who was yesterday found in bushes in St Catherine with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the abdomen, close to the body of her deceased father, who is believed to have committed suicide.

The dead man has been identified as 45-year-old labourer Cleon Blackwood of a Joe Ground address in Bellas Gate, St Catherine.

Blackwood had reportedly fled his home on Wednesday evening with the young child after a domestic dispute with his spouse.

The police told The Gleaner that they were notified of a body being found in the Browns Hall area about 6:20 a.m. on Thursday.

Checks made revealed that the body was that of Blackwood, who had eluded the police with the child a day earlier.

A gun was reportedly recovered at the scene.

“I cannot believe that the man killed himself and injured his child,” Marlene Dawson told The Gleaner, expressing shock at the turn of events, which has left fellow residents stumped.

“When mi hear the explosion this morning, it frightened mi, but despite what happened last night, mi never expect this,” she added.

“This community never have nothing like this, and the community has been affected by this incident. The place is tense as a result of this wicked act. We are glad that him kill himself, but we are still praying that the child pull through,” said Melvin Dalhouse.

The police in Browns Hall said there had been no reported history of domestic violence between the couple until Wednesday.

“We would have preferred to have him arrested and prosecuted, but unfortunately, he took his own life,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Linroy Edwards, who is in charge of operations in the St Catherine North Police Division.