Holiday tragedy: Mother of slain construction worker sad for 3-year-old grandson

What should have been a restful holiday afternoon for Bliss Simmons turned tragic when she was called to her son's workplace where he was shot dead on Tuesday.

Simmons' son, Kareem Thomas, was at the construction site for the Diego Martin Regional Corporation headquarters, Westmoorings, at around 12.45 pm when a gunman entered the site and shot him several times before running away.

Workers called the police who went to the scene with a district medical officer who declared Thomas dead.

Newsday visited the scene and spoke to Simmons, a Spiritual Baptist, who said she was called to the job site by a relative.

"The person asked if I was going to Church and I told them no. Then they told me to come down to Kareem's workplace.

"They didn't tell me what happened. When I got here I saw the police cars lined outside the construction site and that's when I knew something was wrong."

Thomas, 26, is from Desperlie Crescent, Laventille.

Simmons recalled the murders of teens Antoine Francois, 16 and Semion Daniel, 15, on Sunday night in their community and was worried for Thomas when she heard the gunshots.

"I remember a relative of ours called me just after she heard the gunshots and asked if Kareem was okay.

"I was worried about him as well but he was okay (on Sunday), now this (Tuesday's shooting) came and happened."

Simmons said she did not know her son to be involved in any illegal activities and, despite the grief of hearing about his murder, she took comfort in her faith.

"He was here working and making an honest dollar. When I got out the car I bawl out. I'm not really feeling sad for my son because he has already died and has moved on but who I really feel sorry for is his three-year-old son.

"But God is good. I always believe in God. Today was his (Thomas) day, a few years from now it could be someone else's."

Simmons said she remembered her son as a hard-working man who did his best to provide for his son and was well-liked by his co-workers and supervisors.

She noted, despite the pain of losing her youngest son, she was dedicated to providing for her grandson and would be strong for him.

At the construction site, work was temporarily halted as crime-scene investigators and homicide officers continued their enquiries on the details behind Thomas' murder.

Thomas' body is expected to be taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Wednesday for a covid19 test to be done and will return to the centre on Monday for an autopsy.

Investigators from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region 1 are continuing enquiries.