Marco Thompson

A trio of men is tonight being sought for questioning in connection with the brutal slaying of forty-five year old Marco Thompson, a second form teacher of Sacred Heart College in San Ignacio Town.  On Sunday afternoon shortly after one o’clock, Thompson’s nude body was discovered in a pool of blood inside the living room of his home on West and Second streets with what appeared to be multiple stab wounds to the right side of his neck.  While a motive for the murder has not been ascertained it is believed that Thompson was familiar with his attackers since there were no visible signs of forced entry at the premises.  Thompson, according to a police report, was last seen alive by his roommate, Ron Vasquez, around one-fifteen pm on Saturday afternoon.  Vasquez also told San Ignacio police that he had a telephone conversation with Thompson around 1:30 the following morning.  No arrests have been made in the case thus far and police investigations continue.

Luis Cardenas

As for the murder of twenty-two year old Luis Cardenas, who was killed in Orange Walk on Sunday morning, police have yet to levy any charges. Several persons of interests have been questioned in connection with the shooting, but no arrests have been. Cardenas was on a friend’s verandah on Gravel Lane when at around three-forty-five in the morning, a lone gunman sprayed the house with bullets. In the hail of gunfire, a single bullet hit Cardenas on the head and he died on the spot. Thirty-six year old Deon Hyde was also walking by when the man opened fire and he was shot at least four times. He ran across the street after being shot and was assisted by a neighbor. Hyde remains hospitalized at the Northern Regional Hospital. While police have not yet confirmed who was the intended target, we are told that Cardenas had indicated that he was in trouble and Hyde was only known in the area as someone who did yard maintenance for several persons.

A minor has been charged for the May tenth murder of Leo Palacio Junior, who was fatally shot on Central American Boulevard. Two other persons were injured in the shooting; cyclist Byron Pope and a seventeen year old minor. The accused sixteen year old appeared in Family Court this afternoon and was read a single charge of murder. But his mother is convinced that the police have the wrong person because she says she was at home with her son when the murder took place. In fact, according to the mother someone else went to the house to tell them about the incident after it happened. The minor has been linked to the crime because police received reports that the shooter goes by the nickname “Fish”. His mother says, however, that he was never included in an identification parade and he has a friend who uses the same nickname. She spoke to News Five off camera about her son’s arrest.

Voice of: Mother of Accused Minor

“Dehn arrest fi wah murder weh happen Thursday night pan di boulevard weh three young man get shot. But at di time when di murder happen, my son mi deh home yah because all ah we mi inside ya di play cards and thing. Di Friday morning, di police dehn come and seh dehn come look fi “Fish”; dehn neva call ha by ih real name, dehn just seh Fish. So my son at di time he mi deh yah and thing so dehn handcuff ah and dehn ker ah. I di ask dehn why dehn ker ah and dehn seh fi wah murder weh happen last night and I tell dehn but den he mi deh yah last night. Dehn ker ah, dehn lock ah down from Friday and let ah go Sunday morning. when he di come home dah morning deh, he mi di run come home fi come bathe and thing. By di time he get yah dah because police done deh outside. Dehn come, dehn search ah again, dehn ransack my whole house; all eena di back room, eena di fridge, dehn deh everywhere and I noh know weh dehn mi di look fah. Dehn gone afta dat. Like coming onto Monday morning like after twelve dehn come again; dehn time deh he di sleep een yah. Dehn come and dehn ker ah again fi di same murder, dehn lock ah down. When I gone dah di station dehn tell me dehn di charge ah fi murder—fi di three person weh get shot but only one ah dehn dead and di two you know. So I noh know weh fi seh but my son neva do it. I noh just di teck up fi ah, ih neva do it cause dah time he deh right yah and dat hurt me because he neva even been to court yet. He only sixteen and he neva been to court, he not even got wah record. But somebody out deh di tell police dat dah he, di call fi he name; ih nickname. Dehn noh call fi he name, just ih nickname and dehn got lot ah people weh got dah nickname deh.”

Due to his age, the minor was remanded to the Wagner’s Facility at the Kolbe Foundation compound. He is due back in the Family Court on June twenty-seventh.

Marco Thompson

A well known teacher was stabbed to death at his home in San Ignacio. His body was found on Sunday afternoon by a roommate. Marco Thompson was stabbed multiple times by a yet unidentified person who apparently had easy access into the building. The motive for the murder is not known but one theory is that it may be a crime of passion. The community and students are grieving the shocking murder. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

At the main entrance to Sacred Heart College a black ribbon adorns a wrought iron gate.  Today the student body, seven hundred and fifty-five teenagers, mourns the loss of their English teacher.  Forty-five year old Marco Thompson, a resident of San Ignacio Town, was callously dispatched by someone, whom it is believed, knew him very well.

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer

“Police visited a scene at the corner of West and Second Street in San Ignacio where they saw the lifeless body of Marco David Thompson, forty-five years, a teacher by profession, with three apparent stab wounds. Mister Thompson’s body was in a nude state. Initial investigations revealed that Mister Thompson had a roommate, a man Vasquez that was out for the entire night because he was visiting his girlfriend and upon returning home, this is the scene that he saw when he opened the door to the living room.”

Fitzroy Yearwood

Thompson, a career educator, is believed to have been the victim of a crime of passion.  It is unclear when, during the course of the weekend, he was murdered; however, the shocking discovery of his body on Sunday afternoon has left the faculty, staff and enrolment of the high school in a state of grief.

Dr. Eve Aird, Principal, Sacred Heart College

“Around midday yesterday afternoon or nearer to one o’clock, I got a telephone call from one of my colleagues saying that Mister Thompson had been found dead—stabbed in his home. I don’t know anything else. I know that there is a police investigation underway, I know that he was stabbed to death in his home, but I don’t know anything else. I suppose in a situation like this there will be lots of speculation.”

Eve Aird

…and indeed speculations are rife.  What is certain is that there were no signs of forced entry.  His killer gained normal access to the residence and possibly waylaid Thompson before going to work on him with an edged instrument.

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“We hear about three large apparent stabbed wounds. Evidence gathered on the scene, be believe that a knife that was used on him was still left on the scene.”

Undoubtedly, students of his second form homeroom are grief stricken.  Across the campus they have erected shrines and in the classroom his students are busy making wreaths.

Kobe Gutierrez, Student, Sacred Heart College

“To me it was a shock because I didn’t know until this morning. I was really sad. It just spoilt my morning because when I was coming to school, I felt all happy and all of a sudden, they just told me that Mister Thompson had died, passed away and it just like shut me down completely.”

Isani Cayetano

Kobe Gutierrez

“In terms of what your colleagues or classmates are saying and how they are feeling; what has that experience been like being able to talk to the teachers and the counselors?

Kobe Gutierrez

“Well the teachers and counselors have been a big help because lot of us were sad and we were crying because we really miss him. In my experience, the teachers and counselors have been a real help.”

In this case however, the teachers themselves are in need of counseling.

Dr. Eve Aird

“I think a more significant irony is that Mister Thompson himself would have been very much in the forefront leading this kind of effort. Our head counselor is very ill today himself. So we are a crippled staff but our community of schools—through the Sacred Heart Parish—has provided us with a visiting pastor and some seminarians. Father Leo from the Parish was on campus this morning leading a prayer service. I think that we have been very blessed that it is a horrible tragedy to have to deal with, but the assistance for us is coming through from within the school communities.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.

Luis Cardenas

There were two murders over the weekend; in San Ignacio, a well known teacher was stabbed to death and in Orange Walk, a hail of bullets was unleashed by a lone gunman on Gravel Lane on Sunday morning. One bullet found its mark on Luis Cardenas, AKA “Pais”; he died on the spot. A passerby, Deon Hyde, was injured by at least four bullets, but survived the shooting. Cardenas was in police custody earlier in the day, but was released and hours after, he met his death. Police have been unable to confirm if Cardenas was the intended target, but according to acquaintances, who has a long rap sheet, had hinted that he was in danger. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

The bullet holes on the home of Amin Mendez Junior on Gravel Lane are evidence of the number of gunshots that were fired early on Sunday morning. Thirty-six year old Deon Hyde, who was walking by was shot several times, but survived. Only a single bullet hit twenty-two year old Luis Cardenas, but it was enough to end his life.

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer

Fitzroy Yearwood

“We know that sometime around three-forty-five a.m., Luis Cardenas was at a residence on Gravel Lane. He was lying down in a hammock on the verandah of this residence at the same time Deon Hyde was passing by. A lone gunman on bicycle rode past and opened fire on them injuring Hyde. He received somewhere around four apparent gunshot wounds. Cardenas, unfortunately, was hit to the head. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Northern Regional Hospital and I know that Hyde is still admitted receiving treatment.”

Reports are that Cardenas was trapped on the verandah, which is enclosed with burglar bars. His friend had just gone inside when the gunmen opened fire. According to a relative of Cardenas, they knew he had his ups and downs with the law, but he was in Orange Walk trying to make a living.

Voice of: Relative of Luis Cardenas

“He was a guy who was trying to make a living, you know ketch and kill. Like if they ask him to do wah lee mason work, do wah lee carpentry work and stuff like that you know. That’s how he tried to carry his about to make a daily living. Most definitely it’s very hurting for each and every one of us. But it’s a step that I believe we all have to take one day. Nonetheless, it’s very hurtful but we are standing strong for the rest of kids who are still live and are living and we have to be there for them most of all.”

Hyde ran into a neighboring yard to escape the gunmen and the residents rushed him to the Northern Regional Hospital. His mother, Evadne Copius says she got the news hours after her son was shot.

Evadne Copius, Mother of Deon Hyde

Deon Hyde

“Di morning when wah young bwai come and wake me and tell me how—well, I yer ah di tell di neighbors dehn dat how dehn shoot my son. Den I ask ah if ih dead, den he seh ih noh dead but ih get shot. My son tek eight bullet.”

Delahnie Bain

“How is he doing now?”

Evadne Copius

“Right now ih noh di do so fine but ih coming around.”

Evadne Copius

By all accounts, Hyde was known around Orange Walk because he did yard maintenance for several persons and residents do not believe he was the intended target. But it is too early in the police investigation to rule anything out.

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“We cannot say who was the intended target as yet. But we’re trying our best to put this together, gathering evidence and of course, at three-forty-five a.m. you know it’s not trafficable in that area but we’re hoping that somebody may have seen or heard something that can bring some closure in this murder.”

Delahnie Bain

“Has anyone been detained or just persons of interest for questioning?”

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“We have interviewed several persons but that’s as far as it goes for right now. It’s early in this investigation and we hope that someone will come forward. We are having that belief that if we get out there and canvass that area, we might be able to put this together.”

Delahnie Bain

“The people in the area where the shooting happened told us that he did some work in the area there. Do you know if he had any kind of trouble or so why…”

Evadne Copius

“No, not as far as I know.”

Delahnie Bain

“So he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Evadne Copius

“Right, that’s what everybody tell me.”

Delahnie Bain

“And how have you been handling this news?”

Evadne Copius

“Ih rough and right now I have two stroke. But I di try heng een deh… [crying]”

Meanwhile, Cardenas’ family has not been able to start working on funeral arrangements because they have yet to officially identify his body.

Voice Of: Relative of Luis Cardenas

Luis Cardenas

“Up to now we haven’t gotten that opportunity due to the fact that we’ve been to the police station since yesterday morning and we were taken up and down. This morning again we tried to go and identify the body and I don’t want to call any names but at the police station officers told us that we can go there and certain officers will be there.  The police officer who were told would be assisting us to go to the morgue and identify the body, he said that he could not move from his spot because he was attending to some—he had a detail so he had to deal with that detail and that was priority.”

Cardenas will be transferred to Belize City on Tuesday for a post mortem. Delahnie Bain for News Five.

Cardenas’ rap sheet includes charges for the double murder of Nazim Romero and Jose Ricalde, who were shot on February thirteenth, 2008. He turned himself in shortly after and while in prison, he was accused of stabbing inmate, Leroy Gomez. Cardenas was also a suspect in the more recent murder of Abel Robinson, who’s decomposed body was found in the Palmar area in February of this year. Coming up in the newscast will be the murder of the Sacred Heart College teacher in San Ignacio. 

Fitzroy Yearwood

Two persons are tonight in critical condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after attempts on their lives. And although they may carry the same surname they are not related. The first incident involved a shooting early Saturday morning in La Isla Bonita in the San Pablo Area. Thirty year old Barrington Usher was at home when around two-thirty a.m. a knock was heard at the door. Barrington opened the window and spoke to a man. Moments later a shot was heard and Barrington fell to the ground suffering from a gunshot wound to his face. Thirty-two hours later in the Old Capital, another Usher, fifty-nine year old Joseph Usher was also rushed to the K.H.M.H. suffering from severe burns to the head, back, chest and both arms. Sometime around ten-thirty on Sunday morning, Joseph was inside his sister’s yard at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Antelope Street, when he was attacked by a man who doused him and lit him on fire. News Five spoke with Police Press Officer, Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood.

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer

“What we know is that Joseph Usher, fifty-nine years old was standing at the corner of C.A. Boulevard and Antelope Street. Some man approached him, put some form of flammable fluid on him and he was set on fire. Usher was rushed to the K.H.M.H. where he is listed in critical condition.”

Delahnie Bain

“Where was he burnt?”

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“All we can say right now is that he received injuries all over the body. I cannot say how much percent or so. I would have to consult with a medical officer, but I know that he received some serious injuries.  Barrington Usher was at his residence in San Pedro along with a female friend. He heard a knock on the door and apparently Mister Usher opened a window, looked outside and was having a conversation with a male person when this female friend heard a gunshot blast and then Mister Usher then fell off the bed unto the floor and she realized that he may have been shot in the face. He was suffering from a wound to the face. The police were called and the quick response; they had to rush Mister Usher to K.H.M.H. because of the seriousness of his injury.”

Delahnie Bain

“What condition is he in at this point?”

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“Well up to date, we know that he was still listed in critical but stable, ok.”

No one has been detained in either incident and investigations continue.

Jason Canto

Thursday night was an unusually bloody night. There were three murders within the span of an hour—two in Belize City alone and one in Dangriga. We’ll have full details of the all the murders. But we first start with the last murder for the night which brings us to Dale’s Barber Shop on East Canal where patrons within the hair salon were shot upon by two gunmen. Thirty year old Jason Canto was killed. But was he the intended target?  News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

The second murder of the night took place at 7:55 at Dale’s Barber shop, located at the West Canal junction with Bishop Street.  Thirty year old Jason Canto was shot several times. He sustained gunshot wounds to the right side of his chest, two to his right armpit, four visible wounds to his arm, and a graze to the left upper back.   The barber, Twenty nine year old Adriel Pelayo, received a gunshot wound to the upper portion of his left leg. Since the police department has stepped up patrols with eighty additional officers in the city, they were able to arrive shortly after.

Fitzroy Yearwood

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer

“Jason Canto and some other costumers were in the Barber shop when two men entered a side door at this barber shop. One of them took out a firearm and opened fire on them hitting Canto several times to the body. One of the costumers, an owner of a licensed firearm, took out his firearm and opened fire on the shooter. I know police visited a abandoned house on Bishop Street after these men made good their escape; police were called out to an abandoned house where they found one Norman Slusher suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen and the right leg. He was transported to the K.H.M.H. where he remains under police guard. We believe that he is a suspect in the murder of Jason Canto.”

One of the suspects, twenty three year old Norman Slusher of Tigris Street received gunshot wounds to his right leg and the lower right side of his abdomen. Family members of Jason Canto are distraught that his life was extinguished in a violent manner.

Voice of: Michelle Canto, Sister of Jason Canto

“Jason was my younger brother; my only brother. Jason was full of life. Jason wasn’t like how society would put it that he was affiliated with any gang members or anything like that. Jason loved the sea, loved to travel, [and] loved the girls. He loved his family. It is sad to see him go just like this—leaving his two sisters, mom and dad. And it’s hard for us to move on from here; like what would be the next step. I think we leave everything in the hands of God to take care of.”

Jose Sanchez

“This is not just another statistic. He is not somebody who is known to be involved in activities. Was he just in the wrong place?”

Voice of: Michelle Canto.

“I believe he probably was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Rumor has it, it’s a; you know people have, there’s all sorts of rumors going around, but until we get to the bottom of it and find out exactly what happened. Why Jason? Then I can’t say anything else.”

Duane Moody

“We understand that it is possible that Canto was not the intended target. Could you make any comment on that?”

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood

“I cannot say that. The amount of shots that he received—and there were other people inside the barber shop—it’s hard for us to say that he was not the intended target.”

Monica Bodden

“Is there a possibility that it may have been mistaken identity?”

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood

“I would not comment on that. We’ll just leave that it is part of an ongoing investigation.  we have someone in custody. I wouldn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize our chances of making an arrest in this case.”

Giovanni Brackett

“The person who fired, who had the licensed gun in the barber shop though, you would definitely consider that as some assistance. Would he be charged? How will that be dealt with?”

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood

“Well that is considered to be self-defense and that is why I am asking the media to help us to conceal his identity.”

Jose Shoman Junior

The man, whom police say was not a target, is forty two year old Jose Shoman Junior. When the two assailants charged through the side door of the barbershop, Shoman pulled out his licensed nine millimeter pistol and fired several shots at the men. Shoman declined an interview.  On May six, 2008, Shoman experienced a five hour police raid at his home, which included the K-9 and other police units. By December 2008, he found out that an employee and Guatemalan nationals were planning to rob and murder his entire family.

Jose Shoman, Businessman [File: December 15^th, 2008]

“The informant told me in detail that they would have gained entry by force, tried to have everyone tied up and then rob for what they can and then after that they would not leave any witnesses. They would have started with my children, my wife, the rest of my family. This isn’t something to be taken lightly. Imagine if this thing had gone through, perhaps you all would be covering another side of the story and probably looking at our local people as the ones who committed this crime. This isn’t something for us to sit down lightly on because the people that were behind were former employees, people we trusted. I want to caution everyone in Belize. My children right now don’t even want to come out to play. My wife is very distraught over it. I’m stepping up my personal security. We are going to b e more vigilant of who’s coming and going, screen workers before employment, I will have twenty-four hour armed security at the house. As you can see, these people have no regard”

The men who plotted to murder Shoman were convicted. However, The police department admits that the Thursday night shootings were also calculated and well planned.

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood

“These murders are planned. Particularly these two that we are looking at right now in Belize City that took place last night. You can say it was executed with precision. And even with that, we still have a person in custody from the Jason Canto murder which shows that we have our officers out there, we are responding, we are gathering our intelligence and we will continue to ask for the support of the public because clearly you can see that the public are assisting us. And we must never discount that.”

As Canto’s body is being transported away, another piece of intelligence that should not be discounted is the fact that many murders are not taking place by gunmen in tinted vehicles, but by youths on bicycles who apparently have old beef scores to settle. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.

leo palacio

The increased patrols throughout the former capital did little to deter gunmen from reaching their target. The shooting sprees, normally reserved for the weekend, continued unabated.  Earlier in the night, police were called to another scene, this one on Central American Boulevard.  Three men were shot and one was murdered. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

In the darkness, police looked for expended shells on the ground to determine the caliber of the weapon that was used in Thursday night’s first shooting incident in Belize City. A barrage of shots was fired at three men who were standing at the Corner of Central American Boulevard and Pelican Street. Leo Palacio, who lived on Raccoon Street, was killed when he received shots to the left side of his chest and the left side of his abdomen.

Fitzroy Yearwood

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer

“Sometime around six-thirty p.m., police were called out to the corner of Pelican Street and Central American Boulevard where they saw Leo Palacio, twenty-five years, suffering from gunshot wounds. Leo was transported to the K.H.M.H. along with two other persons that were with him who received minor injuries—gunshot wounds also—when Leo was pronounced dead on arrival. He was shot in the chest and other parts of the body, but we believe that the fatal shot may have been the one to the chest. 12:16:55 Initial investigation is that while these men were hanging out on Central American Boulevard, they saw two dark complexion men on bicycle coming from the direction of Corozo Street. These men, when they approached them, opened fire on them causing the injuries and making their escape afterwards.”

Duane Moody

Any idea of what the motive of the shooting was?”

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood

“Not as yet.”

One of the victims, a seventeen-year old minor, received wounds to the upper right leg, right hand and groin area.

Byron Pope

The third victim was lucky. Well known and liked cyclist, Byron Pope, took his bicycle to Ordonez Bike Ship on Pelican Street for servicing, and when he left that’s when he met the minor and Palacio at the street’s intersection with the boulevard. Pope who recently placed fourth in the Cross Country Cycling Classic, was lucky as he only sustained a graze to his back. Pope returned to work today. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.

Police recovered two Aguila brand nine millimeter shells from the scene. The two Belize City murders and the Dangriga murder brings the murder count to forty-eight. 

Matilda Garnett

The Orange Walk residence of millionaire businessman John McAfee was stormed by Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) personnel during a police operation on April thirtieth.  The raid which resulted in the arrest of three security guards left a bitter taste in McAfee’s mouth and he later demanded an apology from the Belize Police Department.  Tonight, two of his associates have been arrested and charged for attempting to corrupt a GSU officer.  According to information released from Assistant Superintendent Marco Vidal, forty-four year old Matilda Garnett and forty year old Rodwell Richards tried to bribe the officer with money in exchange for reports on GSU operations involving McAfee.

Rodwell Richards

On Monday, Garnett, a second class clerk, contacted a member of the unit and insisted that they meet.  During the encounter, the woman claimed that she was acting on behalf of McAfee, whom she later said had become paranoid since the raid on his premises.  The officer then reported the matter and a sting operation was conducted.  During the subsequent meeting Richards was introduced to the officer as McAfee’s “right hand.”  He reportedly offered the officer two hundred dollars and a promise that once he kept them informed of the GSU campaign he would be quote “ well taken care of.” unquote.  Earlier this evening Garnett and Richards were arrested and charged for attempting to corrupt an officer.

James Hyde

A man, originally from Roaring Creek, was murdered in Dangriga on Thursday night. James Hyde was at a yard where he and a group of friends regularly convene after fishing.   That location is where he was ambushed from behind by at least three armed men. He is not known as a trouble maker among Dangriga residents, but the vehicle believed to have been used in the murder, bears Belmopan license plates. That raises the question: did trouble follow Hyde from his former home? News Five’s Delahnie Bain headed south to follow Hyde’s murder trail.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

A murder, with all the makings of a hit, took place in Dangriga on Thursday night. James Hyde was along with friends at the home of Michael Jackson on Oak Street, when three armed men opened fire. Hyde appears to have been the sole target and was shot several times to the head and body.

Voice of: Area Resident

“Suddenly out ah di blue wah unidentified vehicle just haul up, stop front ah di yard. Three gunman exit and just discharge rounds inna f****** homebwai pan di ground, James Hyde check. That’s all and we mi so shook we noh even know. We noh si no face cause man ah man mi have dehn face cova down and fi avoid get shot too we just run. Everybody from di area, we just run from di scene. When we come back, bwai deh pan di scene motionless. Dah just dat check.”

Asst Supt. Julio Valdez, Officer in Charge, Dangriga Police

“On yesterday’s date, the tenth of May 2012, at about seven-twenty as a result of information received of a shooting on Oak street, police visited that area where they found one James Hyde, AKA Pecka suffering from gunshot injuries to his body. He was rushed to the Southern Regional Hospital where he succumbed to the gunshot wounds.”

Julio Valdez

Delahnie Bain

“You mentioned he was shot multiple times; can you be more specific as to how many?”

Asst Supt. Julio Valdez

“We believe he was shot at least six times. He has three to his head, one to his tongue, one to his knee I think and one to his left side of his ear.”

According to Assistant Superintendent, Julio Valdez, Officer Commanding Dangriga Police, the suspected getaway vehicle has been impounded.

Asst. Supt. Julio Valdez

“We have a vehicle in custody which we believe could be—we’re not certain at this time, as I said the investigation is still ongoing but we believe it could be the vehicle that we have in custody.”

Jules Vasquez, Channel 7

“As regards the vehicle, have you all looked at the origin of it? I understand it has Belmopan plates.”

Asst Supt. Julio Valdez

“We are looking at that also. That is all being looked into.”

Voice of: Area Resident

“I can’t give no comment pan di white Mazda cause I noh si no sign weh seh Mazda or anything. I si something white; wah car. Name brand, I noh really know.”

And while the motive is yet to be determined, Valdez says they are receiving information and have been interviewing several persons.

Asst. Supt Julio Valdez

“At this time we’re unable to establish a motive but we have a lot of information coming in and we are following all of those information. Per se right now, we cannot say what was the motive but we are following all the information received in respect to this investigation.”

Delahnie Bain

“Any suspects so far?”

Asst Supt. Julio Valdez

“At this time, the matter is still under investigation. We don’t have any suspects but we have people in custody who are of interest and may assist us in the investigation at this time.”

Meanwhile, the murder and the way it was committed, was shocking for Hyde’s friends, who also work with him as fishermen.

Voice of: Area Resident

“Di man sit down eena wah position weh di man neva ready fi dat and di man neva si who di come yoh know. So di man just tek dah lick just like dat mein. Dat mi just like, how yoh seh we neva expect dat, dat unexpected. Dat just totally—Dangriga dah wah cool place, we just chill out, relax, everybody dah culture capital, dis dah peaceful place. Dah violence noh usually deh bout like dat. Dis dah di man hang out spot, we run wah diving system. We build lobster shade, we deal wid netting, fishing. As far as I concerned—lobstering, conching—di man noh come deal wid no kinda illegal activities round we so fi we dah like wah surprise.”

Hyde’s friends, Akeem Noralez and Michael Jackson, are among the persons who have been interviewed about the murder. And while O.C. Valdez could not say, the residents don’t believe the shooters are from Dangriga.  Delahnie Bain for News Five.

Kevin "Boco T" Kelly

As previously reported in Thursday’s newscast, a criminal investigation is being conducted by the Belize Police Department to determine whether Kevin ‘Boco T’ Kelly, who died while in custody at the San Pedro Police Station, was indeed murdered.  Kelly was initially detained on the night of April twenty-sixth following a robbery on the island a few hours earlier.  While in detention, the thirty-eight year old Belize City resident somehow managed to escape but was recaptured moments later.  Upon his capture, according to Assistant Superintendent Vienni Robinson, Boco T lost consciousness twice before being discovered motionless inside the holding cell.  While his death was initially believed to be of natural causes, an autopsy conducted by Doctor Mario Estradabran indicated that he died of internal bleeding caused by a blunt object.  A second autopsy, conducted by Doctor Hugh Sanchez, confirmed the initial findings substantiating the family’s belief that Boco T was killed by police.  Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood told the media this morning that a second investigation, in the form of an internal inquiry, is also being conducted.

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood

“I think I sent out a release yesterday where I indicated that officers have been placed on interdiction. This is pending the outcome of the investigation.”

Rowland Parks

Fitzroy Yearwood

“Can you say how many officers have been placed on interdiction?”

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood

“So far three; I can say it is three of them. I hope to release the name probably before news time to you, but the reason why we have a criminal and the internal investigation running simultaneously and in the event any charges should be brought up against them, we might have to do identification parade because we are recording statements from witnesses and so on. And we wouldn’t want to have the identity out there before this process takes its course. In all fairness to the family of the deceased we are investigating this matter very seriously.”

Ismael Antonio Moran Enriquez

Guatemalan national, twenty-eight year old Ismael Antonio Moran Enriquez is tonight on remand at the Central Prison after he was caught at the Benque Viejo Border on Thursday morning with a point forty-five Colt pistol loaded with ten live rounds. The Melchor de Mencos resident, however, was not immediately charged but kept in detention and that triggered a furor. According to reports, the Commissioner of Police David Henderson didn’t want Moran charged because he was allegedly authorized by immigration personnel to assist a woman to carry a bag into Belizean territory.  That’s when Customs personnel pulled him and found the firearm. Point forty-five caliber weapons are prohibited in Belize.  Moran presented two gun licenses but neither was for the firearm in his possession. The Director of Public Prosecution, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal maintains that Moran should be taken to court for arraignment and straight to jail on remand. The police make the point, however, there is a process and that shortly before four on Thursday afternoon Moran was charged with Kept Prohibited Firearm and Kept Prohibited Ammunition. He was arraigned in court this morning and has since been remanded to prison where he now awaits a trial on the matter. Police Press Officer, Fitzroy Yearwood explains.

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officers

“Benque Viejo police were called to the Western Border by Custom Officers that were on duty at that entry point. Custom Officers then relayed to them sometime around eight-forty-five a.m. that one Ismael Antonio Moran Enriquez, a twenty-eight year old Guatemalan of Melchor de Mencos. He was attempting to cross into Belize where one of the officers saw something protruding from one of his pants pocket.  The officer then approached Enriquez and upon seeing this, Enriquez tried to walk away. Another customer officer came to this officer’s assistance where they managed to search Enriquez. They discovered a Colt point forty-five caliber pistol loaded with ten live rounds of ammunition. He and the weapon were handed over to Benque Viejo police. Benque Viejo Police escorted Enriquez to the station where he was charged, around three-fifty p.m. yesterday evening, he was charged for Kept Prohibited Firearm and Kept Prohibited Ammunition. He has since gone in front of the court and is now remanded at the Kolbe Prison in Hattieville until ninth of August this year.”

Duane Moody

“What was the issue with him getting charged? I understand that there was a delay in him getting charged.”

Fitzroy Yearwood

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“Duane everything is a process. If you are brought into police custody, we try our best to bring you, at the earliest possible time—twenty-four or forty-eight hours—before a court so that you can answer to your charge. This is a normal process. He was found with a prohibited firearm and he was charged within hours of being found with that firearm.”

Duane Moody

“I understand that he had two licenses on his person, but they weren’t for the firearm that he had…”

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“Duane regardless if he had the license on him, in the country of Belize, a forty-five caliber is a prohibited firearm—a license will not be granted for that in the country of Belize. So regardless if you had a license from your home country, you are in Belize with it and it is a prohibited firearm arm and you will be charged.”

Moran has been remanded until August ninth. The Colt point forty-five weapon he carried—which was loaded with ten live rounds—is customized with American eagle grips. It is reported that a Guatemalan license for the weapon is recorded in the name of George Anibal Orellana who is Moran’s boss.

Kevin ‘Boco T’ Kelly

A trio of officers attached to the San Pedro Police Station is tonight on interdiction and a criminal investigation has been launched into the death of Kevin ‘Boco T’ Kelly.  Boco T was buried today, but the circumstances surrounding his demise while being held inside a cell at the San Pedro Police Station on April twenty-sixth, remained shrouded in mystery until Tuesday when a post mortem examination by Dr. Mario Estradabran indicated that Kelly died of hypovolemic shock. That was reconfirmed by a second post mortem by Dr. Hugh Sanchez. The autopsies confirm that the thirty-eight year old Belize City resident succumbed to injuries caused by a blunt object.  Boco T’s family has maintained all along that they were suspicious and believed that he had been murdered, contrary to an account given by Assistant Superintendent Vienni Robinson, Officer Commanding San Pedro Police Formation that Boco T died of natural causes. In a statement to the media on April twenty-seventh, ASP Robinson said that Boco T had fainted several times after being recaptured and that he was discovered unresponsive a few hours later.  So, was Boco T murdered while in police custody?  That is now under investigation. This morning, a prohibitive order by Commissioner of Police David Henderson was issued to police constables Chuc and Jimenez, as well as special constable Tun from the San Pedro formation.

In related news, the Ministry of National Security has concluded negotiations on a contract with Dr. Estradabran, which means that he will resume duties in respect of post mortems relating to police cases.

Frank Vasquez

Six persons were shot over the past weekend; it turned fatal for twenty-nine year old mechanic, Frank Vasquez. Vasquez was riding home on Neal’s Pen Road when a gunman, also on bicycle, opened fired hitting him on the face, shoulder and back on Saturday night. It is the third time that Vasquez was targeted, but this time he did not survive. He succumbed this morning at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. The motive for the shooting is under investigation and police are looking for a person who goes by the name of Alex. Freelance reporter, Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody

Duane Moody

“Twenty-nine year old Frank Vasquez perished this morning at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital while being treated for gunshot wounds to the face shoulder and back. He met his demise in the wake of a shooting a little after ten on Saturday night while riding home on Neal Pen Road Extension.”

Jenna McKay, Sister of Deceased

“I was at Orange Walk when they called me and tell me my bredda dead, but it was a false alarm and my cousin text me and tell me that he get shot ina ih eye ya, ina ih shoulder and ih back.”

Jenna McKay

Duane Moody

“Where did this shooting happen?”

Jenna McKay

“Up the street, one house away from his own house which is here. I come yesterday and I get called this morning and they tell me that my bredda dead.”

Sherlyn Fitzgibbon, Sister of Deceased

“The doctor state say that piece from the bullet hit a main vein and it cause clogs in his arteries. That dah weh they claim cause ahn fi collapse. But beside that ih had wah bullet ina ih back too weh mi deh close to ih spine so either way ih mi wah either left paralyze or weh just happen.”

It appears to be almost a case of déjà vu as over five years ago in a similar incident also on Neal’s Pen Road, Vasquez’s life came under threat.

Frank Vasquez, Shooting Victim [File: January 26^th, 2007]

“Last night when I mi di ride go home, when I reached in front of my house and parked my bike and approached my old lady shop, when I look up the street I see a male person in a white shirt di fire shot after me ina my direction. But by the time I think about move, it mi done too late cause when he bust the three shots, the fourth one ketch me and I dropped in the drain and I crawl gone ina my house. I peep back out fi see if the gunman di come in my direction, but when I peeped back out I see one of my next lee homeboy di run up the street di grab his chest and bawl that he get shot.”

Frank Vasquez

Jacqueline Godwin

“You recognize the young man?”

Frank Vasquez

(Shakes head, yes) “He know himself, I know ah because he simple, he noh put on no mask.”

Duane Moody

“Sherlyn, wasn’t he shot about five years ago?”

Sherlyn Fitzgibbon

“Yeah ih get shot two times before—one from police and one when they come fi do wa shooting after another young man.”

Fitzroy Yearwood

But did Vasquez know his attacker in this recent incident that claimed his life? According to police, a person known to him only as Alex was the shooter.

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer [File: May 7^th, 2012]

“Frank Vasquez is sometime around in the night later that evening. He was riding on Penn Road when a lone gunman known to him only as Alex opened fire on his causing injuries to his face.”

Sherlyn Fitzgibbon

Sherlyn Fitzgibbon

“According to police. That is simply stating that the police know more than we weh dah family member because they come and ask me the same thing about Alex, but I noh know weh or whosoever they are talking about. So if they know dah Alex, then dah right deh ih come in for them to do their job.”

The family says they’ll remember him as a loving father, brother and son.

Jenna McKay

“He was a hard working father of four kids. Raise ih oldest son by himself. Ih work. I noh know he was a troublemaker, but he is a hard working father.”

Sherlyn Fitzgibbon

“No care what I say, people will remember him how they want to remember him or how they choose to remember him. I will always remember him in a positive way because he da my bredda, my oldest bredda.”

Another person was also injured in a shooting incident over the weekend, but he is still at the K.H.M.H. in stable condition. Duane Moody for News Five.

While Glenford Young is still hospitalized, Frank Vasquez is the second murder victim for this month. 

Kevin ‘Boco T’ Kelly

Kevin ‘Boco T’ Kelly died inside a cell at the San Pedro Police Formation on April twenty-sixth. His body was transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital morgue but he had not been laid to rest because the family was awaiting an autopsy for twelve days.  On Tuesday that examination was finally carried out by Doctor Mario Estradabran, whose contract with the Ministry of Police is under negotiation. This afternoon the police department released the official report citing the cause of death as “Hypervolemic shock due to internal bleeding; due to multiple abdominal trauma, and due to a blunt instrument.” What it does not say is that Boco T was in police custody at the time of his death and whether or not there is a murder investigation with the guidance of Internal Affairs. We tried to speak to the press officer on who are the investigating officers, and if any police officers stationed in San Pedro are the subject of that investigation, but he did not return our calls. Police originally claimed that Boco T had escaped from custody following a robbery and fell on his face after scaling two fences. He was recaptured on the threat of being shot. News Five was able to reach Boco T’s widow, Lorna Wade who believes he was murdered.

Lorna Wade, Widow of Kevin ‘Boco T’ Kelly

“When they done, Dr. Estradabran send the paper out to me and then stated that Boco no died from broken neck or no died from any overdose; that he died in the custody of the police—trauma to the stomach and internal bleeding.”

Jose Sanchez

“Trauma to the stomach and internal bleeding. Did anyone say from the San Pedro Police Formation how that may have happened?”

Lorna Wade

“Up to now as I’ve stated, no police come talk to me yet. They still no tell we why they detain him. We just the hear lee things, just rumors on the street, but up to yet no police talk to me or the mother.”

Jose Sanchez

“Now this sounds like something for internal affairs. Have you spoken to any police about investigating those officers out there?”

Lorna Wade

Lorna Wade

“Well right now we di talk to our lawyer, Kareem Musa. He wa do wah private investigation to the police. He gwen out to San Pedro and find out more or less weh he could gather up because we di look fi do wah sue to sue the police because why they take so long to do the autopsy. We believe they mi have something fi hide and not the doctor report confirm that probably Boco get several beating and that’s why ih mi di bleed inside.”

Jose Sanchez

“Now just for putting it into perspective, his case is the second case of a person at least they were saying just fainting or just drop down and died. Does that also concern you that there is something more happening in that department?”

Lorna Wade

“On the street I hear that they banned Boco already from the island and he neva come in. So I believe that dah something that they meant to do to him because as weh I say, I mi just wish maybe if they mi bring him, detain him, and charge him for a crime that they said he commit. But don’t kill him and hib ahn dah morgue without report nothing to we. Me nor ih family noh know nothing until somebody come and tell we oh ih body done deh dah more. Police still no come to us and say well Miss Wade or Miss Kelly, we have Kevin Kelly’s body at the morgue.”

Jose Sanchez

“Do you think he was killed?”

Lorna Wade

“As me and ih family says, when we notice Kevin body, we know ih mi bruise so we know that they beat him. And the young man that was with Kevin on the island said he notice they di throw water and the taze him—shock him up—and several people say they see when they mi di beat Kevin. That lead up to they di kill ahn noh.”

Jose Sanchez

“Boco’s children, his family that he is leaving behind, how have they been doing without having their provider around?”

Lorna Wade

“Well right now as we said, he used to look after ih three daughters and right now I have my children them and he used to help me out. So I don’t know weh we wah do. So when it comes to his funeral we di ask if anyone could assist us because due to the police holding the body so long, we could not get around to anybody helping us because they tell we they need the death certificate. But being now that it is twelve days since ih body on this earth, we have to hurry do something weh we could do. We di ask if anybody could assist us.”

If you would like to assist Wade, you can call her at 651-0178 or make a deposit to her Belize Bank Account number at 2025666. Wade says that Boco T’s funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon at Saint Mary’s Church.

While it seems that violent crime is no longer endemic only to Belize City, other communities rarely feel the constant fear that is felt by some in the old capital.  However, there is one man who, no matter what community he lives in, always seems to be shadowed by unusual circumstances. Joseph Budna had experienced a series of unfortunate events including a shootout after he gave a ride to a man on Albert Street; and a list of other incidents that followed him from San Pedro to Belize City and then to Benque. What did Budna do? He continued west and moved to Guatemala. Well, the area code change, it seems, has turned up its first fatality. That shadow of unfortunate events culminated with a shootout and the death of a Guatemalan national. Budna, always the innocent bystander, was once again unwittingly the star in his own reality movie that is screened on the evening news. In this recent event from the Budna chronicles, the businessman was the victim of an extortion attempt in Quetzaltenango City, Guatemala. The extortion attempt led to a shootout with Guatemalan police killing one man and incarcerating another. Freelance reporter Duane Moody followed Budna’s trail of unfortunate events.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Remember Joseph Budna? In 2011, he had frequent run-ins with the police—from shootings to drugs and police harassment. The alleged harassment was after Budna, who spent a great deal of time across the Guatemalan Border, was locked up by San Ignacio police and his KIA SUV searched.  But prior to that his name was called in a shooting incident.

Jose Sanchez

“Was it you who picked up some people on Albert Street that resulted in a shooting incident?”

Joseph Budna

Joseph Budna, Businessman [File: Nov 7, 2011]

“That’s right. That shooting incident occurred couple months ago and that was persons who I knew. The police reported that I didn’t know them but I am saying these are persons that I knew. I’m not crazy to go around picking up people. I knew them and one of them pulled out a firearm; they tried to rob me and so on and so forth. The case is before the court and the court will decide.”

Jose Sanchez

“Wasn’t there a case after that of something involving marijuana and a minor in a vehicle that you were driving?”

Joseph Budna

“Well let me tell you that case is before the court whereby I was in the company of a family member, who is a minor, and I can tell you that the police conducted a search upon the vehicle. They did not find drugs inside the vehicle but they claim they found it inside the vehicle.

Well it appears trouble is following the freelance journalist and businessman across the western border in Guatemala where he now lives. A fatal shootout on Thursday in Quetzaltenango City in Guatemala was the result of an extortion attempt on Budna.

Via Phone: Joseph Budna, Businessman

Joseph Budna

“Sometime between ten and ten-fifteen, I was approached by two persons riding a red scooter motorcycle. Two of them were armed with firearms. They approached me and told me that someone was paying them to have me killed. As a result, they asked me to give them fifteen thousand quetzal; a total of about four thousand and something like that in Belize currency. I was to take the money back to the said area where these persons first met me. I then had a meeting with the National Civilian Police which we coordinated to have police officers in my vehicle. I followed them and they started to open fire and while they were shooting, we followed them for about thirty to forty minutes. The police officers exchanged fire with these delinquents. They lost control of the motorcycle, fell to the ground and they tried to escape. One of the delinquents apparently pointed his firearm to police officers and fired shots and missed and the police officers opened fire. Not sure which bullet caught the delinquents, but one laid dead on the spot.”

Twenty-four year old Mateo Ceballos was killed in the crossfire while the other gunman, twenty-six year old Abraham Linares, was captured. According to Budna, Linares has since been charged with several crimes including Attempted Murder against State Police and Kept Firearm and Ammo without a License.  Duane Moody for News Five.