Friday night on Vernon Street near Conch Shell Bay is always busy - but around 7:30, it got downright scary as a fighting spilled over into the street. The fighting men were 27 year old Francis Figueroa and 26 year old Raymond Meyers Jr. known as Big Tug. It ended when Figueroa was killed with multiple stab wounds - here's more.
Teresita Figueroa, Aunt of deceased
"The last time I saw my nephew was 7:20 pm Friday night when he came from work. He came in and said auntie what do you want to eat? I said a fried chicken, he went and bought the fry chicken. When he came back about 7:30 pm he said auntie I am coming back. That was the last time I saw my nephew."
When he left her house he came back here to his place of employment Royal Wholesale where he went in to pay a co-worker $10 that he owed him. On his way out he got into an argument with Raymond Myers, a man well known to him who is always hanging out in the area.
Yolanda Schakron
"He was going to church because the Sabbath started on Friday, he didn't used to work on Saturdays. The other guy punched him, he defended himself. It's unfortunate seven people beat him, they stabbed him, he ran into the yard here. I said Francis what happen? I didn't realize he was stabbed, I though they just beat him and the blood was coming out. He said I am fine Mrs. Yolanda don't worry and he ran up the stairs and he sat down. I saw him run down and I said wait a minute Francis something is wrong. My nephew put him in the vehicle and rushed him to the hospital. By the time he got there, like 20 minutes later he died."
They accosted him here in the middle of the street. Reports are that Figueroa had Myers in a head-lock which is when 4 men in a car pulled up and started to stab him. When he escaped he still managed to run into the compound.
Yolanda Schakron
"I think he had a fatal stab wound to the heart."
Jules Vasquez
"But even after he got that he was talking. "
Yolanda Schakron
"He was still talking, he ran up the stairs. I didn't realize he had been stabbed. "
The motive may have been a difference over faith.
Yolanda Schakron
"You know one time I remembered Francis telling him that he needed to turn to God. He doesn't like to quarrel, Francis is really dedicated to the Lord. Apparently Mr. Meyers held that against him. Every time Mr. Meyers got drunk he would get upset about that."
And now a family remembers this 27 years old as a man of his church.
Teresita Figueroa
"He goes from church to home, he doesn't mess with anybody, I don't know how this happen yet."
Yolanda Schakron
"He was an outstanding employee Jules, I must say he was hard working, dedicated, punctual and he was a peace maker. He was a devoted 7th Day Adventist, he loved God. "
According to our records Meyers was charged with the murder of Poly Audinett in 2003 - but the case was thrown out a year later.
