Ex-cop gunned down at his home

Residents of Seaforth, St Thomas, have been gripped with increased fear following the slaying of Andrew Thomas, a former police constable on Saturday evening.

According to police reports, Thomas was standing at his gate close to 8 p.m. when he was approached by two men on foot who shot him multiple times. He was transported to the Princess Margaret Hospital where he was pronounced dead. No motive has been established for the killing. Choosing his words carefully as he spoke with the news team, a returning resident stated that there has been an increase in murders and criminal activities over the past several months. Up to December 30, at least 40 persons have been murdered in St Thomas.

"One time a dog we use to fraida a night time but now a bad man. St Thomas gone gone, enuh. People go bed early and like how dis go happen now all 6 o'clock yuh nah see nobody on the road. A bag a shooting a gwan inna di place fi a while now and is like it nah stop," he said.

A watchman who worked a short distance away from where the deceased lived in Riverside Housing Scheme in Seaforth, described him as a 'good brethren'.

"Is a good man and when mi madda dead him give me a bottle a rum. A mi fren like that and probably if mi did deh here when him a dead mi woulda a dead too, because mi always sit on the outside and dem probably wouldn't wah leave nuh witness. But mi a tell yuh say di man a mi good brethren man," he said.

The watchman stated that Thomas had lived in the area for approximately five years and described him as being a helpful and friendly individual. Thomas also operated an auto parts shop and was a used car dealer. The watchman said the gunmen were brazen as it is known in the community that armed guards and police officers sometimes guard the business place which is adjacent to where the incident took place. Thomas' residence is also secured with surveillance cameras.

"A mi son mi call him because mi have a son who a police too. Mi say when mi get the call a mi yard mi feel it, enuh. A policeman was working over here and the man say him just move and go in the guard house when him hear the shot dem suh him don't know is who," he said. He also expressed concern for the ex-cop's son.

"A di police dem mi hear say knock him up and tell him say him daddy dead because him never know. Him did a sleep," the man added.

A man who identified himself as a tenant of Thomas described him as an easy going landlord.

"Is over two years mi live here and we get along alright, enuh. Mi never deh here when it happen but mi shock when mi hear. Mi nuh come from here, enuh and mi fraid. In fact mi fraid before all of this happen because a bare little vibes a gwan," he said.