By Christian Appleton
Tears streamed down Naomi Neufville’s face as she recounted the traumatic moment her two-month-old son, Abu Jalloh, was struck in the head by a stone. The alleged assailant, identified by locals only as “Diamond,” is known to suffer from mental illness, and this incident has amplified rising community fears in Harper.
“I don’t know what kind of bad luck this is,” Naomi said, her voice breaking as she recalled the events of Tuesday, July 15, at her Revy Street residence.
According to Neufville, Diamond first entered her yard, wielding a knife and threatening her younger brother. Naomi bravely intervened and managed to repel the attack, prompting him to retreat. But moments later, he returned—this time with a stone.
“He said he would be back,” Naomi recalled. “And then he came and threw the stone—hitting my baby just above his eye.”
Baby Jalloh was immediately rushed for medical attention. Alarmed neighbors subdued Diamond and handed him over to local police. Authorities at the Maryland County Police Headquarters confirmed that Diamond remains in custody, and an investigation by the Women and Children Protection Section is ongoing.
This shocking attack has sparked widespread concern in the Harper community, especially as it comes just over a week after another violent incident in Weah Village, where a mentally ill man reportedly killed a five-year-old child with a cutlass.
“People are afraid. We’ve seen this before,” said a vendor at Harper’s general market, who spoke to RRNN on condition of anonymity. She reported seeing Diamond earlier this week “brandishing a cutlass, cursing at women and and daring anyone to stop him.”
“The police came and detained him briefly. I don’t understand why he was let go so quickly. See what’s happened now?” she added, highlighting a common frustration.
The incident underscores the growing public safety concerns surrounding untreated mental illness in Maryland County. Experts and community advocates point to a chronic lack of mental health infrastructure, with no dedicated residential or rehabilitation centers for patients.
While organizations like the U.S.-based Partners in Health have made progress in providing community-based mental health services, their efforts are significantly hindered by the absence of a secure facility where patients can be safely housed and treated over time.
J. J. Dossen Memorial Hospital, the county’s primary referral center, remains overstretched and lacks a dedicated ward for psychiatric care. Families of mentally ill individuals are often forced to choose between restraining their loved ones at home or letting them roam freely—sometimes with tragic consequences.
“As it stands,” said one local health worker, “it’s only a matter of time before we witness another fatality.”
Residents are now urging local authorities and the Ministry of Health to take urgent steps to improve mental health services and prioritize community safety—before the next tragedy strikes.