One man was killed and another was injured in a flurry of bullets early Saturday morning in the 100 block of Northeast Sixth Avenue when the killers shot through windows with shades drawn, police and witnesses said.
Neker Jacques, 28, of Lantana, an up-and-coming reggae musician in the Haitian community who went by "N Jay," was shot in the back of the head and killed, police said. Jean Albert, 36, of Boynton Beach, was shot in the shoulder. The two were among about seven others playing cards and dominoes in the row house when the killers tried to open the door but it was locked, detectives said. They then shot through the window and escaped.
Detectives found several 9mm casings on the ground. Witnesses told police three men dressed in black ran away westbound on Northeast 6th Avenue. Detectives believe the shooting was an attempted robbery since the house is well known for card and domino games.
In February there was a similar incident in the 100 block of Northeast Fourth Avenue where two or three men rushed a home where card and domino games were ongoing and shot three people, killing one. In that case, the suspects made off with expensive jewelry and about $1,000, victims said.
However, friends of Jacques believe Saturday’s attack, just after 12:30 a.m., was personal.
"He was the target," Jacques girlfriend, ÖMonique Tima, 34, said. She did not elaborate.
Johanne Tilus, 26, a friend, said it may be retaliation for an incident on Christmas in which Jacques pulled a gun on someone. Boynton Beach police arrested and charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, state records show.
Tilus said Jacques was beloved. Jacques would go to the row house of his friend, Francois Cherilus, 37, almost every day and people knew to find him there.
"If he knew he had some enemies he’s not going to show up here," Tilus said. "They all stuck together."
Cherilus sat in front of his home in a plastic chair, visibly shaken.
"I can’t sleep," he said. "They just shot in the house."
Jacques, a father of two, ages 2 and 9, with a wife in Haiti, worked in the computer business and was planning to go to his native Haiti next month to perform at Carnival, family said. He was the youngest of five brothers who came to Florida 10 years ago and lived with his parents, who were too distraught to talk. His brother, Annilus Jacques, 43, said he spoke with Jacques’ wife Saturday morning.
"She kept crying, I couldn’t tell her anything," he said.
Jacques loved to sing and he drew inspiration from singers like Bob Marley and Lucky Dube. Dube was killed by carjackers in October in South Africa. Standing outside Jacques’ home, family and friends looked at posters of the young singer.
"We hope they find his killers," Tima said. "We want justice."
Jacques will be buried in Florida, family said, and they are trying to bring his wife and child to the United States for the funeral.
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