ORLANDO, Fla. (TCN) — A 39-year-old pastor will spend the rest of his life behind bars for fatally shooting his estranged wife at her job in front of multiple witnesses in 2020.
The Florida State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit announced July 25 that a jury convicted Sylvester Ofori of first-degree murder with a firearm in connection with the death of Barbara Tommey. A judge subsequently sentenced him to life in prison.
On the morning of Sept. 8, 2020, Tommey went to work at Navy Federal Credit Union. Tommey’s estranged husband, Ofori, reportedly approached her as she exited the building to move her vehicle. According to the attorney’s office, Tommey tried to run back inside the credit union when Ofori fatally shot her in front of multiple employees and customers. Ofori fled the scene following the shooting.
Investigators obtained surveillance footage of the incident that showed Ofori following his estranged wife before pistol-whipping and shooting her as she “frantically” knocked on the credit union door. Tommey reportedly fell to the ground, and Ofori shot her three more times.
Orlando Police spoke with family members and co-workers and learned of previous domestic violence incidents between the couple. Prosecutors said Tommey and Ofori had recently separated, and Ofori had threatened to kill the victim two days before her death.
Police initially announced Ofori’s arrest on Sept. 9, 2020.
According to WESH-TV, at the time of the shooting, Ofori worked as a pastor for Floodgates of Heaven. He allegedly called himself a prophet and asked his followers to address him as such.