MOTHER WANTS JUSTICE IN SON’S DEATH

TIGER SLAIN

Two gunshots shortly after sundown last Thursday, July 31, ended Myron “Tiger/Antz man” Westfield’s life, and his mother is searching high and low for answers as to why her son was shot and killed.

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Westfield, 23, a labourer, of Gibson Corner, became number 17 on this year’s homicide list.

Police told SEARCHLIGHT that around 6:30pm, Oscar Porter, 59, a businessman of the same area, was at home on his porch when he heard a noise coming from his vehicle parked in the yard. Police say that Porter went to investigate the matter and saw the deceased trying to remove the vehicle’s battery. It is reported that Porter shouted to Westfield, who then ran. The police further stated that Porter said something to the deceased, who then turned back and started pelting him (Porter) with bottles.

According to the police, the businessman went inside his house, got his licenced shotgun and fired a shot in the air, but Westfield continued blasting bottles at him. Porter fired another shot, which caught Westfield under his arm and another on the right side of his body.

However, Westfield’s mother Joycelyn Matthews is not buying that story at all. Matthews says she believes her son was killed senselessly and believes that the police are hiding certain information.

Fighting back tears, Matthews said she was at work when someone came running to her saying that her son had been shot. “When I hear that, I ask the boy about three times what he said, because I did not believe,” Matthews recalled.

The aching mother said she ran frantically to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and hugged her son while he lay on the hospital bed. “I hug him up and lay on he chest, but by that time he did done gone,” she said as her voice broke.

“I want justice for my son. He did not deserve this. I want justice,” Matthews continued.
Westfield’s girlfriend, who did not want to be identified, said on the day Myron met his death, he had called her from home to tell her Happy Birthday and that he was washing some clothes. The distraught woman said it pains her heart, especially when their two-year-old daughter Shamya asks her, “Where is daddy, he gone buy KFC for me?” she related.
The family said that they are dissatisfied with the actions of the police and want to know how a man could shoot someone and not be arrested. They also claim that no one from the police has come to speak to the family.
A post mortem examination revealed that Westfield died from multiple gunshot wounds. Up to press time on Wednesday, no charges had been laid against Porter, who was discharged from Police custody pending further investigations into the matter.
Westfield will be laid to rest on Sunday at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Granby Street.