The Camalote community has been waiting for justice after Akeem Thimbrel and his cousin Shawn Lopez were gunned down in May. But residents are running out of patience because they say the police have not given them any substantial updates on the case and no one has been charged as yet. Today Akeem's father came to our studios pleading to the police for answers. He says if the police do not step up other angry residents might step in and that is the last thing he wants.
Ervin Thimbrel - Akeem's Father
"One of the things that we struggle with is that I have to be the anchor for my entire family, not only my immediate family, but the extended family who are grieving right now. So, as a pastor it is not easy, it's very difficult but I have to find something to say to my wife and to my other children and to people who come to us. There are members of the community who come to us in tears and we have to find comforting words for them whilst we, ourselves are grieving."
Courtney Weatherburne
"Sir, you told us before that the last update was that the police officers found the vehicle as well as the gun that was allegedly or reportedly used in the murder. But based on what you are saying and the outcry from the residence as well, they are not happy. Justice has not been served as yet. No one has been detained, no one has been charged. There are no follow-ups from the police to you or the community. How do you guys feel about that? What's the message?"
Ervin Thimbrel - Akeem's Father
"That's a very difficult part, not only for us but for the entire community, because Courtney as you know, you went to the area where the crime happened and there were people who saw what happened. They don't want to talk outright, but what is happening now is that these people are crying out for justice, because these boys were 1st and 2nd cousins to almost everyone in the community. So, people are crying out for justice. They are asking when, when, when? Based on what the police have been saying to us. But for the last 5 weeks or so we've been hearing that well, you know we are close - but nothing. So, there was a prayer vigilant Friday night organized by some young members of the community. Over a 100 persons came out. It was organized over about 3 days span and imagine if we had more time to organize, more persons would have come out. So, people are crying out for justice. People want justice. One of the things that have been said to us that has prompted us to come forward even more so now is that there are members of the police force who were saying to us, you need to move, you can't leave this as is because it's going to become a cold case file. It's going to be left there and nothing will be done. Imagine if one of these guys go out and meet these people who they are suspecting under the influence of alcohol. I pray it would never happen. We have a police force who are organized people, we have systems in place to deal with things like this, but when these systems fail then you start having things going the way that it shouldn't go."
Police had 2 persons detained but no charges came out of that. Reports are that neither Thimbrel nor Lopez were the targets but it was one of their friends, Sanjay Casey who lives near to where the shooting happened. Residents are also saying that a police officer is also involved.
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