In cold blood
Daughter witnesses gunmen killing dad
A WOMAN reported standing in despair and running for cover on Monday as she witnessed masked gunmen murder her father at McKoy Lane, St Andrew.
Gary ‘Matto’ Thomas, 48, was standing with a friend near his gate when two men approached and started shooting.
His daughter, Ariel, believes he was the target because he was shot and chased.
“I saw my father run off and a try sight the shot dem. One connect and him drop. By time him drop, the man just go over him and a give him the whole of the gunshot dem,” the deceased man’s daughter said.
She initially sought to run to her father’s defence, but was advised by a woman to save herself.
Ariel later returned to the scene where her father was found seriously injured.
As he tried to speak, blood flowed from his mouth.
“Mi say to him, ‘Mi father, you a go weh lef’ mi,’ and mi father jus dead,” a weeping Ariel told The Gleaner.
He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
On Tuesday, the spot where Thomas presumably took his last breath was still stained with blood.
She described her father as a provider who gave of the little he had.
Ariel said that Thomas, a father of eight, was an avid smoker, drinker, and someone who enjoyed cooking.
Police reports are that about 3:50 p.m., two men approached Thomas and another man before opening fire and escaping on foot.
The residents said they were shocked at the killing as the community has been relatively calm for some time. They are now fearful that Thomas’ killing may spark a return to violent conflict.
The Hunts Bay police are investigating the murder.
Up to May 7, the St Andrew South Police Division recorded 40 murders.
That represents a 43.7 per cent decline when compared to the corresponding period in 2021, when 71 persons were killed.
Shootings are also on the decline, falling by 42.5 per cent – or to 42, compared to 73 for the comparative period in 2021.
A total of 510 persons have been murdered so far this year.