Belize City Fisherman Shot Dead Near Yabra Bridge

“If you can’t catch Harry, catch his sleeve.”  It’s an old saying used to describe a scenario where a killer is unable to locate his target and takes aim at someone else.  Oftentimes, that individual is a victim of circumstance.  That’s what happened this morning when an unsuspecting fisherman was pounced upon by a gunman who was pursuing someone else.  Frustrated by not being able to catch up with his quarry, the lone assailant turned his weapon on Mark Francisco and fired a single shot, mortally wounding him as he stood near his vehicle.  News Five’s Isani Cayetano begins our newscast this evening with the following story.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

This morning in Belize City, a retiree turned fisherman was gunned down not far from the Yabra Bridge. Mark Francisco was getting ready to head out to sea when he was approached by a gunman and fatally shot.  According to his sibling, a pair of men set out in pursuit of an unnamed individual.  When they could not catch up with him, they turned their attention to Francisco who was near his vehicle.

 

David Francisco, Brother of Deceased

“The guys chased after another guy, he escaped over two fence.  The other guy came to my brother, right by his vehicle, right there, and told him lift up his head.  When he lifted up his head, he shot him in the head.”

 

 

 

It is not clear why the men targeted Francisco who, by his family’s account, was not a troublesome person.  Earlier today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams echoed a similar sentiment.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“At this time, we are not aware of a motive.  We are still puzzled with this one.  Mr. Francisco is not known to police, he is not in the underworld, he was not a gang member.  He was a productive Belizean and we are still trying to figure out why he was killed.  Nonetheless, investigators are still busy, they were out up to late last night trying to gather evidence and we were hoping that we would be able to make some progress.  We have people who are saying things to us but are reluctant to give statements, so it’s a matter of trying to convince them to reduce what they know to the police in writing so that we can make an arrest.”

 

For many years, Mark Francisco was an employee of Benny’s.  When he retired, he picked up fishing as a livelihood.  He was going about his preparation for another fishing trip when he was pounced upon by his killer.

 

David Francisco

“This guy had no right to come and just shoot my brother just like that.  This is insane.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“I understand that your brother was getting ready to go to sea this morning when this happened.”

 

David Francisco

“Yes, he was getting ready to go to sea.  He was right there by his vehicle, cleaning up to put his stuff in and take off to go to the boat and put on his machine and put in his gas and food and stuff when this guy came and shoot my brother.”

 

 

 

Isani Cayetano

“Why do you believe that either your brother or the other person they were pursuing would be attacked in this manner?”

 

David Francisco

“Well I guess because you can’t catch the guy you came for, you made an example out of a senior man, not a young guy, a senior man and shoot him in his head, chance him out of his life.”

 

The Belize Police Department is looking for one person of interest.

 

Chester Williams

“We’re looking for someone of interest, we do not have that person in custody as yet. No.”

 

Isani Cayetano for News Five.