7 News Belize

In about 2006, just the mention of the name Kenneth "Big Tom" Flowers would strike fear in many Belize City residents. He had the reputation of a ruthless enforcer for the Back-A-Town crew.

But tonight, the news is that Big Tom is dead. According to his family, the 32-year-old Kenneth was killed on Monday in Utah in the United States. We spoke to his sister Andrea who confirmed to us that he was shot once in the head during daylight hours. The family says it was a murder. No motive is known and no arrests have been made yet.

He was believed to have been shuttling between Utah and his home in Los Angeles. She says Big Tom had been in the United States for about two years. His sister told us he had no children, no wife and is survived by six sisters and brother.

We note that there are other reports which say he was killed in Atlanta. Neither account could be confirmed in media houses in either city.

And just so, Big Tom's sister says the family does not know very much at this time and no funeral arrangement has been made yet. Another source tells us his mother says they will likely be unable to afford to bring the body to Belize for burial.

Big Tom rose to prominence and notoriety on the south side of Belize City between 2002 and 2007 when he was said to be associated with the Back-A-Town crew. He was charged for murder at least once but never convicted.

Still, he was considered an enforcer for a prominent gang figure and, in 2007, he told Jules Vasquez that he had been shot five times â€“ but falsely accused many more:

Kenneth "Big Thom" Flowers,
"I got shot up five times. I have eight bullet holes on me. I was a bad person. I know about gunshot, I know about going to jail for murder, you get the sense. But that is not my sight what I am looking for. My sight which I am looking for is to have a better life to drive home to my yard, go to my house, and lock my gate. You get the sense?"

Kenneth Big Tom Flowers, dead at 32.