The misery Lisa Thompson-Cooper faced when her youngest son was murdered in 2012 returned to haunt her on Friday night when her elder son was gunned down in similar style.
Cylus Cooper, 30, of Lengua Village, Indian Walk, Moruga, died from multiple gunshot wounds around 11 pm on Friday. His killing occurred three years after his younger brother Marcus Cooper was shot dead in a drive-by shooting close to his home on New Year’s. Police said yesterday that both brothers were involved in organised crime including drug trafficking and gun-running in the Princes Town and Moruga districts.
Police said Cooper (Cylus) was driving his car along Lengua Road, close to his home, when a silver Nissan Tiida pulled up. The back seat occupant pulled out a gun and started firing at Cooper who sped off in his car. He lost control of the car which went over a 25-foot precipice and crashed into a mango tree.
The gunman came out of the Tiida and got closer to Cooper’s car where he started firing several shots at him, hitting him in the chest and arm. The men then sped off in the Tiida. A man who lives close by said he hid in his house when he heard the barrage of gunfire.
“I heard more than five shots but I didn’t come out. In this rounds, you cannot take any chances,” the resident added.
The Tiida was then set afire in a dirt track at Diamond Road, St Croix, a short distance away. Police said the car was stolen from Barataria earlier this year.
At the family’s home yesterday, Thompson-Cooper said she had barely come to terms with Marcus’s death when Cooper was killed. Asked whether Cooper had any enemies, she responded, “Everybody knows he had many enemies.” She said her sons’ two killings were related, adding that several weeks ago Cooper received a death threat.
“He did not report it. I also got a death threat and I went to the police, so if they come for me the police will know who they are,” Thompson-Cooper added.
Asked whether she planned to move out of her house, Thompson-Cooper said, “Move out and go where? I feel there is no justice in this country. With the police you have to have money to talk to them and I have no money.
“It’s one day to live and one day to die. Regardless of the precaution you take, they will still find you and the police will not do anything.”
Police said yesterday that Cooper had several pending matters in court for drug trafficking, shooting, and possession of arms and ammunition. Officers said they believed that Cooper’s death would spark reprisal killings in Indian Walk.
“We are putting things in place to brace for more revenge killings. Now that a key player is dead, we expect there will be more fighting for drug turfs,” the officer said.
• Anyone with information on Cooper’s death can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS.