Shattered

• Six-month-old baby’s murder crushes parents’ world

Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporter

The 23-year-old father of six-month-old Tira Thompson – the infant who was shot dead by marauding gunmen in Hollywood, Norwood, St. James on Saturday, has been left confused and in disbelief.

The quiet and soft-spoken young father, who wished not to be named, told the Western Mirror that he is feeling numb and can’t make sense of the incident, which has shattered his world as Tira was his first and only child. He said he and his girlfriend were doing well and he had high hopes for the future until Saturday night, when three bullets took the life of his precious gem.

Tira’s mother, who was also injured during the incident, is distraught and barely coping.

The Montego Hills Police, who are investigating, indicated that about 8:20 p.m., patrons were at a bar at Hollywood Square, when a motor car with men aboard approached them.

The men alighted from the vehicle armed with guns and opened gunfire at the patrons, hitting two teenagers, 14 and 16, before opening fire randomly in the community as they fled on foot. Three of the bullets penetrated the windows of the home of little Tira and her parents.

The police were summoned and on arrival, it was discovered that Tira and her mother were shot and wounded. They, along with the two teenagers, were assisted by the police to the hospital, where Tira was pronounced dead.  The two teenagers were admitted in serious condition, while Tira’s mother was treated and released.

NEGATIVE COMMENTS

Tira’s father has expressed concern over the negative comments swirling around pointing out that neither he nor his baby’s mother is involved in anything negative or unlawful and that he would not put his young family in any danger.

 He said the attack on the house was random as the gunmen were firing shots all the way from the square.

In the meantime, National Security Minister, Dr. Horace Chang, who on Sunday visited the area in the aftermath, described the incident as most unfortunate and tragic, as he sought to assure the family and residents that the security forces were working speedily and efficiently to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“I want to reassure citizens we are in a better position to respond quickly and we are going to take every step required to bring in the killers, to bring them to justice,” Chang said.

Chang, while assessing the situation, suggested that since the granting of extended opening hours for small businesses under the State of Emergency three weeks ago, there has been an increase in the number of homicides committed in the parish. 

“Since that, we have had a series of murders. In the original orders, the shops were required to close at eight. We restored the opening hours to 10 and 12 respectively and therefore, businesses have been more active.”