It was a bloody Sunday on the streets of the city less than 6 hours apart - two men were murdered. Both killings were brazen as one was in broad daylight and the other was at night near a popular restaurant. And for the first victim it couldn't have come at a worse time: he had just been released from jail and he had just gotten the news that he was going to be a father. But 20-year-old Alfred Tillett won't ever get to see his child because he was murdered. Keith Swift has the story.
Keith SwiftReporting,
20-year-old Alfred Tillett was gunned down under this coconut tree at 3:45 pm yesterday on Malcolm Street. It was in broad daylight and witnesses say Alfred was cornered by the gunman and though he tried to run - between the tree and the cars in the lot- there was simply no escape. His aunt Molly Allen heard the shots from her home on Faber's Road.
Molly Allen, Aunt of Deceased
"I was home cooking and I started to eat some food and when I heard the three shots, I run out of the house and I told my children I know that is by Alfred. So I ran out and when I ran out I saw a lot of people out there so
I just went to where the people where and I saw my nephew lying on the ground. He was dead already."
Alfred had been shot twice to the chest - and police suspect he may have been cut on his left hand - though his family suspects it is actually a graze from the third bullet.
Supt. Aaron Guzman, CIB Commander
"Mr. Tillett had two gunshots wounds to his chest."
Alfred Tillett - who also goes by name Alfred Allen is no stranger to police. This is his mug shot from January of 2006 when he was charged for the murder of Bruce Cocom. But in December, Alfred walked free from those charges. His cousin Melissa Allen says Alfred had changed his life. In fact - just hours before he was killed - he got the news that he would be a father.
Melissa Allen, Cousin of Deceased
"He was trying to settle down because his girl had just told him the Sunday morning that she is pregnant and thing and he was trying to settle down and thing so I don't know why they would want to kill him."
Molly Allen,
"He had his girl and he decided to settle down with the girl and thing and when he came out he wasn't giving trouble."
But head of the Criminal Investigations Branch at Eastern Division Aaron Guzman says the motive for the murder of the 20 year old may be one of the oldest in the book - revenge - specifically for the murder rap he beat a month ago.
Supt. Aaron Guzman,
"Last year a charge of murder was withdrawn against the gentleman and it could be but at the end of the day, presently, as we say there is another murder where he was killed. So the police need to investigate and find out who committed this murder and prefer charge against that person or persons concerned."
Police say two people witnessed Alfred Tillett's murder and they are appealing to them to come forward.
No arrests have been made. Police say there are two eyewitnesses to the murder and they are asking them to come forward.
