A Taxi Man is Fatally Stabbed During a Fight with a Trio of Men

Tonight, Shawn Ortiz’s family is grappling with his tragic and violent death. The beloved taxi driver was stabbed after a night out at a popular spot in Belize City. As he was about to head home, a verbal spat turned into a brutal attack, with one of three men stabbing him viciously. Ortiz tried to escape, unaware of his injuries, but collapsed a short distance from the scene. He was rushed to the K.H.M.H. but sadly didn’t make it. Now, police are on the hunt for three suspects linked to his murder. We start our newscast with this story from News Five’s Isani Cayetano.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

A well-known cabdriver met a tragic end overnight while socializing in Belize City. Forty-three-year-old Shawn Ortiz was leaving Stephen’s Place on Jaguar Avenue in the vicinity of Faber’s Road Extension when an altercation with three men turned deadly. During the confrontation, a knife was drawn, and Ortiz suffered a fatal stab wound. His girlfriend, who was at home across town, received the heartbreaking news of the incident later.  Deandra Staine spoke with News Five off camera earlier today.

 

Voice of: Deandra Staine, Girlfriend of Deceased

“Well I mi di sleep and then I just received it by a phone call and through text that he just get stabbed and so we mi need fi goh meet ahn da hospital.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“What did you observe at the point where you got to the hospital?”

 

Deandra Staine

“By the time we reach da di hospital ih mi already passed away.  And I mi end up fi sih and everything but ih mi done gaan.”

 

Investigators report that Ortiz became involved in a physical altercation with three men, during which he was stabbed once. By the time police arrived at the scene, Ortiz had already been rushed to the KHMH for emergency medical treatment.

 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Police responded to a stabbing incident on Jaguar Avenue in Belize City.  Upon their arrival, police learned that the victim had been taken to the KHMH for treatment.  Police visited KHMH where they found Shawn Ortiz with stab wound injuries and he was pronounced dead on arrival.  Investigation revealed that Shawn Ortiz was in a fight in the area of Jaguar Avenue with other persons, one of whom inflicted the fatal stab injuries to him.  We are seeking three suspects in regards to this report.”

News of the taxi driver’s death came as a devastating shock to Ortiz’s sibling. Shanine Campbell could hardly believe that her brother would meet such a violent end.

 

Voice of: Shanine Campbell, Sister of Deceased

“This is hard, I mean we buried mommy a year and change ago, buried Shawn’s dad and my dad two months later, after mommy, and now here comes Shawn.  He was affectionately known as Big Shawn, so, you know, I would constantly say Big Shawn, but to his friends, he da mi Mack Shawn.  This is hard.  Truth be told, I can’t, at this moment, I am still processing it. I can’t cry, I am just trying to figure out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to get through this one.  So I must tell you that it is hard, it is a shock, shock to the neighborhood, shock to Shawn’s friends, you know, a shock to Shawn’s family.  This is different, we heard that it’s a stab.  To be honest, we would have expected probably a crash, probably an altercation for a woman, but not a stab.”

 

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, a motive for the murder is yet to be determined.

 

Hilberto Romero

“We do not have a motive at this time.  They were all involved in the fight at Jaguar Avenue.”

 

Marion Ali

“Was this from an old dispute or something that just erupted?”

 

Hilberto Romero

“All we know is that there was a fight there and he was stabbed.  That’s all we have at this time.”

 

Ortiz was a beloved figure in the Lake Independence community, known for his vibrant personality and infectious energy. To many, he was the life of the party, always bringing joy and laughter wherever he went.

 

Deandra Staine

“Everybody just like ih vibe da just life.”

 

Shanine Campbell

“Shawn was fearless was fearless.  He used to say, “I go everywhere because I have nothing, I don’t have any feud, any quarrel, any fuss with anyone.”  But here it comes.  A stab wound at an establishment and we have no idea what really happened.”

 

Isani Cayetano for News Five.