Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Brown, Kevin

WHEN NORMAN Russell first heard that Kevin Brown was found with bomb-making materials at the Orlando International Airport on Tuesday, he could not believe it was the same person he taught at The Priory School, 14 years ago.

"I dismissed it until I saw his photo in the papers, even then I could not believe it. It's totally out of character," said Russell.

Brown, 33, was arrested on Tuesday by security personnel at the Florida airport before he could board an Air Jamaica flight for Montego Bay. The authorities found several galvanised pipes and bomb-making literature in his luggage.

Russell, who still teaches at Priory, told The Gleaner that he first met Brown in January 1991 when the student was transferred from Knox College in Spaldings, Clarendon. Russell said he last saw Brown three years ago at the Norman Manley International Airport.

"Nothing seemed strange about him," Russell said.

Mother's tragic death

He could not recall whether Brown's mother, Sandra McLeod, was alive at the time of that meeting. McLeod was murdered at her Negril hotel in June 2005. Friends and family say her tragic death traumatised Brown, the older of her two sons.

Russell said Brown was never an outstanding student during his three years at Priory, but was "extremely friendly and outgoing".

"He was that kind of caring person," Russell said.

Brown's father died when he was a baby, so his mother, raised him and a brother on her own.