Tonight, the specter of gang violence and possible retaliation hangs over the Southside after a prominent street figure was murdered on Saturday. But, for the family of Tyrone Meighan, they are grieving as any other family would. That's because a man who once told us he woke up every morning ready for a gunman - was caught off guard on Saturday. Jules Vasquez has the story:
On Saturday morning at around 11:00, 31 year old Tyrone Meighan had stopped here on Sarstoon Street when a gunman on motorcycle pulled up:
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"Information is that he was in a vehicle along with another male person when a motorcycle with two persons came to the area, one of the persons fired several shots towards his direction, causing his fatal injuries. We are seeking two persons in regards to this murder investigation."
Police say he was taken out of the vehicle and then frantically rushed to the hospital - but there was nothing doctors could do.
Tyrone Meighan
(August 29, 2016)
"Any day when I get up out here I know it's a threat, so I'm ready for a gunman any day out here."
But on this day he wasn't. The father of three was visiting someone in the area - which is not far from his home:
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"I'm not sure who they were looking for, but the vehicle was stationary, and that is when the motorcycle came to the area."
Meighan was a prominent gang affiliated figure - we had interviewed him a number of times. About his various run ins with the law.
On Saturday he was shot multiple times with a high powered 40 calibre pistol -
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"Yeah, several shots were fired at him. We have several expended shells that were found at this scene. It is 40-caliber shells."
It happened a block away from where a mother and son were murdered four weeks ago.
Jules Vasquez
"So now this is the second murder in that area, right? Two of them happened right off Lockwood Street in the past five weeks. Are these murders related?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"Well, we have several theories. We know this one is gang-related with Tyrone Meighan, and we are trying to put the pieces together, but we cannot conclude if they are related."
Jules Vasquez
"Was Tyrone Meighan lured to that location?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"He was there looking for someone, along with the other male person in the area."
Reporter
"Are police concerned about the repercussions?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"Yes, we have several operations that are ongoing. We have intelligence that we are working on, and so we are trying our best to minimize any retaliation at this time."
Notably, Tyrone's elder brother Ellis - who is being held in the US - and wanted for murder in Belize - is expected to be deported shortly. He is wanted for questioning in the murder of Roy Lee Burgess and the attempted murder of Maia James.
