Eight arrested in Jamaica death of girl, 8

• Tweet

DUNCANS, Jamaica, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Jamaican police arrested eight men for their alleged involvement in the shooting death of a British girl, 8, who was on vacation with relatives, officials said.

Investigators said they believe the shooting of Imani Green Friday outside a restaurant in the town of Duncans may have been connected to a lottery scam in which Americans are asked to pay advanced fees on prizes they are told they won.

The shooting could have been a revenge attack among people involved in the scam in which Imani and three of her relatives were innocent bystanders, The Daily Telegraph reported Monday. Imani died after being shot in the head and shoulder, though her family members survived.

Deputy Superintendent Steve Brown of the Jamaica Constabulary Force told the BBC there had been "some developments where the police have taken eight persons into custody and we're confident we will make a breakthrough on this one very soon,"

Imani and her family were on extended leave in the Caribbean to take advantage of the warmer climate and help the young girl cope with her sickle cell anemia, The Daily Telegraph reported.