‘Dem tek weh mi pickney from me’

Tuesday morning’s gun murder of prolific footballer Rafiek Thomas while he slept at his Denham Town home has dealt an immediate blow to the youth of west Kingston who idolise him.

Thomas, 39, was shot dead and a 35-year-old man left injured after the home invasion about 5 a.m.

The footballer’s sister, Peter-Gay Thomas, said the sport was doomed after the security forces took over the only football field in the community to house the base for the zone of special operations in the area and that his death has dashed hopes for many young talents.

“If you plan to curb crime, social development is a part of it … . Weh kids a go turn to now when you have this? You gonna have crime. Things not gonna get better in Denham Town,” she said.

Peter-Gay, who is also a former national athlete, said her brother was very passionate about football and an inspiration for the youth and adults.

“He is a hero to the community,” she told The Gleaner. “Every other child look up to him in Denham Town.

“Is like you are trying to come to some conclusion or assumption of what could have taken place, but it could be that he is just a victim of the flare-up of violence, but this was deliberate,” said the grieving sister.

Peter-Gay said that when she received a call that her brother’s house had been shot up, she hoped that the incident was not fatal.

“When me go and see the yellow tape, is like mi collapse … ,” she said. “They didn’t know that somebody else was upstairs dead. Is when the police go inside, they said there was a body upstairs.”

She said her brother kept a low profile and worked with a company contracted by Petrojam. He also jerked chicken for sale on weekends.

VICTIM OF CRIME

“I just never know my brother would be a victim [of crime], knowing him nuh talk to people. Him nuh come outside and par pon corner … . It hard fi know mi brother fall as a victim,” said Peter-Gay.

Lucilda ‘Mitsey’ Dunkley was beside herself with grief on Tuesday as she mourned her son. With her abdomen tied, she cried continuously as a family friend sought to console her.

She told The Gleaner that she last saw Thomas, the first of her three children, on Monday night.

“Mi don’t know how me a go live without Rafiek. Unno call him phone. Mi just want talk to Rafiek. A last night Rafiek eat him rice and peas and ackee that I cooked,” Dunkley said.

She said that for Thomas to be killed in his sleep, his dogs must have been greatly distracted or subdued.

“If di dog was barking, Rafiek would a get up … . From him a 12 year old him a play football. Mi baby go all ‘bout go play football. Him go Cayman from him a 12 year old … . Jesus Christ, dem tek weh mi pickney from me,” she said as she wept.

Less than 32 hours before his death, Thomas played a pivotal role in Boys’ Town’s quest to the Jamaica Football Championship (Tier II) league next season, after defeating the Jamaica Defence Force on penalties in the final of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association Championship League at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday.

Throughout his career, he played for the Harbour View, Waterhouse, Tivoli Gardens and Humble Lion football clubs in the top-flight football league.

“Down to the likkle pickney dem can tell you ‘bout him. When dem see him, dem say, ‘Big Balla!’. Him not even talk to people; him nuh go dance,” a relative said, adding it was hard to lose a loved one in this manner.

The family is now concerned for his two sons.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com