The murder of Kenneth Big Tom Flowers shocked the city yesterday evening,
He was a major gang figure in the early 2000's, who, over the years, had survived many attempts on his life in both Belize and the US. But, yesterday - he was caught off guard - allegedly coming to the rescue of a lady friend who was in a dispute with a male companion. Tonight that male companion is in police detention pending a murder charge.
But Big Tom's family can only mourn. Jomarie Lanza spoke to them today:
At around 4:35pm yesterday, 47 year old Kenneth "BigTom" Flowers was driving a Chevy Equinox not far from his home but when approaching the corner Mopan and Mahogany street someone fired several shots at him. Injured, Flowers raced off down Mahogany Street into Sittee Street where he crashed into another vehicle and collapsed. He was then rushed to the KHMH where he was pronounced dead shortly after. Today, police were in the area looking for surveillance video of the incident.
Flowers, a former gang leader who had survived many attempts on his life was reportedly shot by a man who was competing with Flowers for a woman's affection.
Flowers was no stranger to police, but, in recent years had styled himself as a kind of community leader and elder who had survived the streets and was trying to lead gang youths away from a life of crime. Just under 2 months ago he did an interview with the media at the 13th amendment consultation
July 16th 2025
Kenneth "Big Tom" Flowers, Attending 13th Amendment Consultation
"I am a victim towards it, I am a person that has spent a lot of states of emergencies in jail for just being on the streets. I didn't commit a crime. I used to do drugs so I used to get picked up a lot but at the end of the day I was just fighting my own self going through my own problems but I got victimized by my past so that kept me going to jail whenever they have states of emergencies when I didn't even commit a crime so now I am against it because a lot of children who are not involved in crime will be in jail. So at the end of the day, I think they should make better decisions because in a country like this, all of us are failing."
"Crime has consequences but humans have rights so every time you punish someone for the crime, they get punished for their own human rights when they reach the prison because the prison doesn't treat you as a human."
Flowers was always open and blunt about his criminal past and background, but that did not stop him from actively seeking a change in his life and promoting peace among those around him.
Kenneth "Big Tom" Flowers, Deceased
"Stay to positive, stay away from Negative. I am sorry for the children who are getting hurt out there and the people getting hurt you know what I mean? I can't do nothing to stop that. I've cried all day, I am crying long time."
"Try to do right right? To speak right to the people around you, to your community and your neighbors, to your family because your family sometimes has no sense."
He also had a music studio where he recorded positive music for his community. And that's why after all these changes his sudden loss has shaken his family who looked to him for guidance and advice
Brithney Starr, Sister of Deceased
"For me my brother was the only father figure I really knew. Well for my entire family we took it really hard for the entire community that is how huge of a loss, almost the entire country is crying from the outpour of love he gets so you see how huge."
"As siblings we go through our ups and downs but nevertheless I love my brother dearly and I always say that I feel like he helped to save me. When I was young I always tell the story I was giving trouble at a tender age and he built up his studio and told me Britney get into the studio and try to do something positive from the age of 13 I developed a love for music because of him."
"I remember he used to, I feel like he was hard on me out of all the artists he had and I felt like his critiques at the time I felt like he took any little thing to try crucify me but when like in 2020 when he had his shortcomings I realized in that moment because that was when I became Brithney Starr he prepared me for that."
Brithney admits that her brother played a role in the development of her music career, but aside from being a mentor to her, she says that she wants to remember him for the big brother that he was to her.
Brithney Starr, Sister of Deceased
"Yesterday let me just say this I was at the hospital when I heard everything and I was the one who didn't go to see him I didn't want to remember him like that I wanted to remember the papi show he was, the clown even when he is upset, I want to remember him as that person not someone with a scar or a bullet anywhere or blood running down him, his face I didn't want to see him like that."
The Special Patrol Unit responded quickly and caught the man who shot Flowers, and also got the alleged murder weapon. He could be arraigned tomorrow and we'll be there if he is.
