On the night of September 11, 1987, the reggae world was silenced by a tragedy so brutal, it left fans and musicians across the globe in shock. Peter Tosh, the revolutionary voice of justice and founding member of The Wailers, was shot and killed in his Kingston home during a violent armed robbery.
But new details have resurfaced — including the haunting final words Tosh spoke to his killer, words that burn with truth, defiance, and heartbreak.
And once you hear them… you’ll never forget them.
🔫 The Night of Terror
Peter had just returned home from a trip overseas. Friends gathered at his house for a quiet evening when three armed men, including a man Tosh had once tried to help — Dennis “Leppo” Lobban — stormed in, demanding money.
For over an hour, Tosh and his guests were held hostage, beaten, and terrorized. It wasn’t just a robbery — it was a betrayal. And Tosh knew it.
💥 His Final Stand
As the tension escalated, Tosh reportedly pleaded with the gunmen to spare the lives of his friends. Witnesses who survived the attack later said Peter’s voice never wavered, even in the face of death.
And just before the shots rang out… Peter looked his killer in the eye and, according to testimony, said:
"Mi fight fi di poor, not fi dis. You turn gun pon di wrong man."
Seconds later, the trigger was pulled.
Peter Tosh was shot multiple times and died shortly after.
Those were among his final words — defiant, tragic, and soaked in the truth of everything he stood for.
🕊️ More Than a Musician — A Messenger
Tosh wasn’t just a singer. He was a fearless advocate for equal rights, legal cannabis, and Pan-African liberation. His music was a weapon for peace. Songs like “Equal Rights”, “Legalize It”, and “Get Up, Stand Up” weren’t entertainment — they were a call to action.
And on that dark night, he died as he lived — unbowed, unbroken, and bold.
⚖️ The Aftermath
Dennis “Leppo” Lobban was later arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death (later commuted to life in prison). Ironically, Tosh had once helped secure Lobban’s release from a previous prison term — trying to give him a second chance.
That trust was repaid with betrayal.
🎧 His Voice Still Echoes
Though his life was stolen, his message lives on. Every time you hear Peter Tosh's music, you’re hearing the fire of a man who refused to be silenced — even when staring down the barrel of a gun.
“Everyone’s crying out for peace. None is crying out for justice.” — Peter Tosh
Maybe now, we cry out for both.
📝 Final Thought
Peter Tosh’s last words weren’t just a warning to his killer.
They were a final reminder to all of us:
Stand for something. Or fall to anything.
Which Tosh song do you still play today?
Share your favorite lyric, moment, or memory — and let the legacy of a warrior poet never fade. 🕊️🔥