ORLANDO, Fla. – A 39-year-old pastor will spend the rest of his life in prison after killing and shooting his estranged wife at her workplace in front of numerous witnesses in 2020.
The Florida State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit stated on July 25 that a jury convicted Sylvester Ofori of first-degree murder with a firearm in the death of Barbara Tommey. A judge eventually condemned him to life in prison.
Tommey began working at Navy Federal Credit Union on September 8, 2020. Tommey’s estranged husband, Ofori, allegedly approached her as she departed the premises to relocate her vehicle. According to the attorney’s office, Tommey attempted to flee inside the credit union when Ofori fatally shot her in front of numerous employees and customers. Ofori fled the area after the incident.
Investigators discovered video security evidence of the event, which showed Ofori stalking his estranged wife before pistol-whipping and shooting her as she “frantically” pounded on the credit union door. Tommey collapsed to the ground when Ofori shot her three times more.
Orlando Police spoke with family members and coworkers and learned about the couple’s previous domestic violence issues. Prosecutors stated Tommey and Ofori had recently split up, and Ofori had threatened to kill the victim two days before she died.
Police first confirmed Ofori’s arrest on September 9, 2020.
According to truecrimenews, At the time of the shooting, Ofori was a pastor at Floodgates of Heaven. He allegedly referred to himself as a prophet and instructed his followers to address him as such.