Murder on camera - Eyewitness recounts harrowing moments of deadly attack on ‘Niah Gang’

Four-year-old daughter of TikTok star Xavier 'Niah Gang' Fogah has yet to grasp the gravity of her father's murder, but her heart seemed to sense the tragedy unfolding around her. The curious toddler's innocent steps led her to unknowingly tread on the bloodied ground where her father took his final breath.

As she played with broken police cordon tape mere feet from the scene, her poignant question echoed: "Dem kill mi fada, whe mi fada phone deh?"

Niah Gang, a 23-year-old who has nearly 250,000 followers on the popular social media platform, was murdered on Saturday night during a live session. The shocking incident unfolded as Niah competed in a TikTok match with fellow creator Arribazon.

Explosions erupted mid-stream about 9 p.m. Saturday, prompting Niah and another man to flee their seats before horrific screams replaced the sounds of banter.

The yard in Gutters, Old Harbour, St Catherine, where the murder occurred has since become a place of sorrow. Friends gathered at the spot from which Niah once went live daily, their tear-streaked faces reflecting devastation. Some sought solace in marijuana, while others stared blankly, struggling to comprehend the loss.

" Him love him daughter gone to bed," said one heartbroken relative. "No stepfather or no one nah go show her the love him did. She young now, but when she get bigger and see how him did deal with her, she a go feel it."

Known for his hustler spirit, Niah's journey to fame began with selling egg-and-plantain sandwiches before TikTok catapulted him into the spotlight.

"Di dawg was everything that was good. He was family and was a bredda to wi. Everything that is good to describe a person, yuh can think of Niah. When we hungry, a him we call upon because him always deh deh fi we. Every day him cook big pot right inna dah yard yah," one man said.

Another of Niah's relatives stated that the youngster was a source of inspiration to persons of all ages.

"Niah was a go-getter and him set trends fi di younger youths dem. A him make we know say millions coulda hold as ghetto youths, and a TikTok him use do that. All the big people dem look up to di yute. Him make we know say BMW coulda drive as well. A bad mind dem bad mind him. A him make we know say we must reach 1,000 followers and do we content and get some gift and collect, and have a piece a food inna we pocket. The man was a motivator," the relative said.

Despite his rise, Niah's content often hinted at underlying tension. In recent posts, he acknowledged having enemies and vowed to stay to himself.

"Dem people yah 'switchy switchy' too much," he said just days before his death.

Niah's demise comes amid whispers of a possible TikTok feud being the motive. Theories have swirled online, with some speculating betrayal by a close associate, a claim friends vehemently deny. "People corrupt fi think that way," said an eyewitness who recounted the harrowing moments.

"All a we a family over here suh. Mi deh here and hear a crackling noise and den shot start fire. A deh suh mi know summen wrong. Mi tell mi bro (Niah), run, and the two a we run off ... It hard fi mi process what really happened," said the man, who was seated next to Niah when their premises was invaded.

Amid the sombre mood on Panton Lane, the tension was palpable as residents kept a wary eye on the back entrance -- the very spot where armed thugs had invaded their sanctuary.

Police have launched an investigation into the killing, with Head of Operations for the St Catherine South Division, Deputy Superintendent Michael Campbell, stating that leads are limited. "We are currently speaking with family members and visiting the community," he said.

While the police have been tight-lipped about possible lines of enquiries being pursued, well-placed sources told THE STAR that detectives are examining whether feuds that manifested themselves on TikTok may have resulted in the content creator's death.