An Orlando pastor was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the fatal shooting of his estranged wife in 2020. Sylvester Ofori, 39, shot 27-year-old Barbara Tommey several times outside the Navy Federal Credit Union where she worked, reported Click Orlando.
According to the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office, Tommey was attempting to enter the credit union for her shift on September 8, 2020, when Ofori tracked her down and opened fire. Surveillance video captured the horrific scene, which showed Tommey frantically knocking on the credit union's door before Ofori attacked. The State Attorney’s Office further specified, "Ofori was seen on video arriving at the credit union and parking his vehicle," and highlighted how he was caught on camera following Tommey as she tried to escape, as detailed by ClickOrlando.
This domestic violence incident, turning fatal, was witnessed by credit union customers and employees. Ofori's actions and the subsequent murder profoundly affected both the local Orlando community and members of his former congregation at Flood Gates of Heaven Ministries. As reported by WFTV, the shooting and its aftermath were also filmed by security cameras, which showed Ofori "pistol-whipping her and shooting her multiple times."
In the trial that lasted three days, nearly a dozen people, including Tommey’s brother and credit union witnesses, testified against Ofori. Family members revealed to the Orlando Police detectives past instances of domestic violence, and Ofori had even threatened to kill Tommey two days before committing the crime. After deliberation, the jury found Ofori guilty, and a judge handed down the life sentence as the final judgment.
