18-year-old Duck Run Resident Killed in Roaring Creek

Police are actively searching for a person of interest in the tragic killing of an eighteen-year-old in western Belize. The investigation began when officers responded to a shooting at an establishment at Mile forty-seven on the George Price Highway late Wednesday night, just before midnight. Upon arrival, they found the lifeless body of Jonathan Josue Leonardo, a young Belizean driver from the Cayo District, in the back of a vehicle, riddled with gunshot wounds. Initial investigations revealed that around 10:30 p.m., Jonathan was socializing with friends at a bar when he had a confrontation with a known male individual. Moments later, Jonathan allegedly left the bar and got into his vehicle with his friends. The suspect then approached the vehicle and fired shots at him, inflicting fatal injuries. Jonathan’s body is now awaiting a post-mortem examination. Earlier today, we visited Duck Run 2 where we spoke with Juan Leonardo, the victim’s father, off camera.

 

Voice of: Juan Leonardo, Father of Deceased

“Well, I suddenly didn’t know anything because they told me at about 11 at night. They told me what had happened. They only told me to go to the hospital, but without any answer as to what had happened. I found him when I arrived at the scene because I saw that he had already passed away what every father goes through. I was devastated. Very sad. Not because he is a son who has grown up with me by my side, working since he was little every day and I have been with him every day. They have never given him away for anything. I don’t understand why he is there. Why?  Ah, well for me he is a person who, as I tell him, has been with me every day. For me, I have never seen anything bad in him. I can guarantee that because he is with me every day. I had to know something, but nothing. He simply came home from work. As always, we leave every day at dawn. In the afternoon he went out to the store, but with whom I don’t know who he went with, I don’t know what problem he had or they had with him or I don’t know. I still don’t understand. I have a lot of, eh, eh? Let’s say unanswered questions. He never said he has problems with anyone or that someone wants to hurt him. Not at all. Because as I repeat, he only spent his whole life with me since he was 13 years old. He let me go to school. He hung out with me and until now that he was 18, he got his license. So now he helps me make deliveries as he goes. I make deliveries all over the country. So, from what I know, he has never said anything to me and I have never seen him do anything. As far as I know, he has never, ever been involved in anything. He doesn’t even play soccer. He doesn’t leave the house. I don’t know what brought him here, no, I didn’t even know where he was. When I called him I realized that something had happened to him, and I’m still on that, that. I don’t know why and I would like to know who did it or why they did it or justice. Well, more than anything, that’s what I need. They don’t know that that person has a reason to hurt you or. I think they were drinking. And why is that, eh? Well, I don’t think they have reasons, because we give ourselves reasons for someone to hurt me, eh? I don’t know, no, I’m still in shock that I don’t understand why. I don’t even know any of them. I don’t know anyone, no one. I don’t know why that happens. No? He is the third of my children, two girls and then he becomes a boy. But I have always, always been with me, as I tell him, I’ve been with him all the time.”