MONTEGO BAY, St James — An old friend of the woman gunned down Wednesday outside a church in this western city says she had been receiving threats and, according to a police source, they are probing reports that her death may be linked to assets that belonged to her late husband.

“Yeah, mi hear seh dem threaten her,” the friend, who asked not to be identified by name, told the Jamaica Observer Friday.

He said there had been at least three death threats levelled against 38-year-old Cora Thompson. She was fatally shot by a gunman just after 2:00 pm Wednesday as she sold books on the grounds of Montego Bay New Testament Church of God on Water Lane. Worshippers inside reacted with disbelief and shock as at least five shots rang out during the fasting and prayer service that was being live-streamed.

The police, who are probing the murder, have not confirmed the reported threats against Thompson’s life but an officer familiar with the ongoing investigation said they are looking at a domestic dispute as a potential motive.

“That’s the direction we are leaning in,” the officer, who asked that his name be withheld, told the Observer Friday.

“We are looking at assets believed to be tied to a situation involving her deceased spouse,” he added.

Reports are that Thompson’s late husband was to be buried this weekend, after recently passing from natural causes; it is unclear what those causes were. She is survived by a 12-year-old son who is being cared for by her grief-stricken mother. On Friday devastated relatives, who asked not to be named, described Thompson as a loving person who willingly gave more to others than she received. One cousin said she would prefer to walk away than engage in any form of conflict.

Thompson’s friend, who said he had not seen her for about 20 years but exchanged pleasantries when they ran into each other about a month ago, said she was originally from Roehampton in the southern part of St James. At the time of her death she lived at Humber Avenue in the heart of Montego Bay. Thompson had a reputation of being a quiet individual who spent a lot of time in the house of the Lord. Reports are that she joined the church at Water Lane about five years ago and was a choir member.

Her pastor, Bishop Ruel Robinson, described her as a committed individual and willing worker.

“She was a quality lady, somebody that is high-spirited and cooperative, supportive; yes, she is that kind of person. She gets along well with almost everybody,” he said on the day she was killed.

Thompson is the second woman killed in the precincts of a place of worship in western Jamaica in recent times, and both cases are eerily similar. Andrea Lowe-Garwood was shot and killed as she worshipped inside Agape Christian Fellowship Church in Falmouth, Trelawny, on January 31, 2021. She died leaving a son and other relatives to mourn; and there were allegations that her death was linked to her late husband’s possessions.

Lowe-Garwood’s stepson, Javon Garwood, was accused of hiring triggerman Dwight Bingham and getaway driver Leon Hines to kill his stepmother, who was involved in a dispute over her late husband’s properties.

Bingham and Hines pleaded guilty to their roles in the murder and agreed to testify against Garwood. However, Bingham changed his mind and refused to cooperate with the prosecution. Garwood was subsequently acquitted by the jury.

Bingham was sentenced to 45 years in prison for Lowe-Garwood’s murder while Hines was sentenced to six years in prison for being an accessory to the murder.