Deadly Shooting in Hattieville Claims Life of Beloved Electrician

On Saturday, Hattieville resident Tyrel Thomas was tragically shot and killed by three men who reportedly mistook him for someone else. Thomas was installing surveillance equipment at a home in another part of the village when he was ambushed. Known for his dedication to community service, the electrician and former village councilor was also working on refurbishing a local park. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with the story.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

A well-known and beloved Hattieville resident, licensed electrician Tyrel Thomas, also known as Tyrel Requena, was tragically gunned down on Saturday afternoon. He was installing a camera system in the Windmill area of the village when the deadly shooting occurred. Thomas was on the job with his goddaughter when they came under fire.

 

Tyra Thomas, Sister of Deceased 

“All I can say, that was definitely mistaken identity.  He went to install a camera at this house and that was it.  He went to do what he loved to do.  He went to do his work, you know.  He was definitely not the intended target.”

 

Thomas was on a ladder outside the bungalow when three men reportedly appeared from a nearby overgrown area. They approached the property and unleashed a hail of bullets in his direction. The spot where he stood on the ladder is now marked with bullet holes.

 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“We have several persons in custody and no one has been charged at this time.”

 

Reporter

“Is he collateral damage in a gang war and was the target someone else?”

 

Hilberto Romero

“Yes. We have information that the intended target was someone else.  There were three persons there and two of them got shot.”

 

Tyra Thomas was at a store in Hattieville when she received the news about the deadly attack on her brother.

 

Tyra Thomas

“I was in J Mall and one of my uncles stopped me and he asked me if da true Tyrel get shot.  And I da like no.”

 

Unbeknownst to Tyra, her sibling and his goddaughter had already been rushed to the KHMH.

 

Tyra Thomas

“It still feels surreal.  I went to sleep last night and I got up believing that it was a dream.  So honestly, it feels surreal.  We have honestly not come to the terms of it. He’s a licensed electrician, he worked at BATSUB for twenty-five years. As a matter of fact, he had recently received his award of service, a big accomplishment for him.  That was literally him.  Tyrel would you have any kind of electrical job, everybody knows Tyrel will be willing to assist.”

 

Could Thomas’ death be a gang-related attack targeting the person who hired him to install the surveillance equipment?

 

ACP Hilberto Romero

“Yes, we have some information that it’s related to that, yes.”

 

Reporter

“Do you know the motive for why they were after that other guy?”

 

Hilberto Romero

“The same rivalry between the two groups in Belize City.”

 

These two groups have been clashing for a while, but the violence has surged since Brandon Baptist’s death a few weeks ago. Isani Cayetano for News Five.