On September 11, 1987, the reggae world was shaken to its core. Peter Tosh, the fiery, fearless Wailer who stood toe-to-toe with injustice, was shot and killed in his Kingston home. For many, it seemed like a tragic robbery gone wrong. But those who knew him — and knew the man behind the trigger — believe it was no accident.
In fact, the killer was someone Peter once tried to help. And that betrayal makes his death all the more haunting.
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The Return of a Desperate Man
His name was Dennis “Leppo” Lobban, an ex-convict who had reportedly been introduced to Peter by a mutual acquaintance. Leppo had just come out of prison and claimed he wanted a second chance. Peter, known for his belief in justice and rehabilitation, offered him support — money, encouragement, even a bit of trust.
But that trust would become his undoing.
On the night of September 11, Leppo returned to Peter’s house — not for help, but for money. Armed and accompanied by others, he held Tosh and his guests hostage for hours, demanding cash. When things didn’t go as planned, the guns exploded.
Peter Tosh was shot in the head. Dead at 42.
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Why It Was Never “Just a Robbery”
Authorities at the time dismissed it as a robbery gone wrong. But many close to Tosh, including family and fellow musicians, believe it was much more personal.
Leppo knew Peter. This wasn’t a stranger.
Tosh had spoken out strongly against political corruption, police brutality, and systemic injustice. He was no stranger to enemies in high places.
The timing — on the eve of a major comeback — felt too cruel to be coincidence.
There were whispers that Peter’s outspokenness had made him a target — and that Leppo may have been used, knowingly or not, as a pawn in a bigger game.
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A Betrayal That Cut Deep
What breaks hearts the most is this: Peter was trying to help him.
All his life, Tosh had fought for the oppressed — the poor, the imprisoned, the forgotten. He believed people could change. That the system could be challenged. That righteousness could prevail.
And yet, his compassion was betrayed by someone he reached out to lift up.
In a cruel twist, the same hand he extended was the one that was bitten — fatally.
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Justice… or Just Silence?
Leppo was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death (later commuted to life). But many fans and insiders believe the real story was buried with Peter. No deep investigation. No exploration of possible political motives. No real justice.
Just another Black revolutionary voice silenced.
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His Voice Still Roars
Even in death, Peter Tosh remains a symbol of resistance. His music — Equal Rights, Legalize It, Fight Apartheid — continues to inspire generations of truth-tellers, rebels, and freedom seekers.
His murder wasn’t just a loss to reggae — it was a loss to global activism. A brutal reminder that sometimes, the people you try hardest to save may be the ones who bring you down.
But Peter's message lives on.
They tried to silence the man…
But they only made the message louder.