A suspect in the murder of Richard Aranda has been arrested and charged by Dangriga police. Twenty-four-year-old Jaheim Bradley, a fisherman from Dangriga, has been arraigned on a murder charge. As we’ve reported, Aranda was walking along Sabal Street on Christmas night when two men on a motorcycle approached him. One of them, believed to be Bradley, opened fire, fatally wounding Aranda. Despite being rushed to the Southern Regional Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. Here’s more from Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero.
“Police responded to a shooting incident in Dangriga. Upon their arrival they learned that a male person had been taken to the hospital for treatment. The police visited the hospital where they found Richard Aranda with several gunshot injuries. Information is that he was in an area in Dangriga when he was approached by two persons on a motorcycle, one who fired several shots towards his direction. He, thereafter, succumbed to his injuries. There is one person in custody [who] we expect to charge sometime today.”
Reporter
“Do you all know the motive?”
Hilberto Romero
“No, we just know that they had some rivalry with some persons. That is all we know.”
A family in Dangriga is heartbroken this holiday season after their loved one, Richard Aranda, was tragically shot and killed on Christmas night. Richard was walking along Sabal Street in the Lakeland Area when he was ambushed and shot twice, just after nine PM. The incident left the community with many unanswered questions, as Richard, a resident of Rivas Estate, was not known to have any conflicts with anyone. News 5’s Marion Ali brings us more in the following story.
Voice of: Sabal Street Resident
Voice of: Sabal Street Resident
“I mi eena mi bathroom taking a shower, I just got inside and I heard four shots, so I say da pop shots and John Kunu mi di play cross the street deh, the last stop over deh. So I said that nuh wa be gunshots and lotta kids deh rround. So I don’t take my shower and I get outta mi shower fi get eena mi bed fi put on clothes eena mi room and I hear pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. And I say, what? So, by the time I said I was going to peep through my window, I see people running through my yard ya. So I said, Oh my God. So I get – I start shaking. So I wait for a long while before I come outside. That time police done deh out ya already, and then I ask if the bwai dead. I aske da who get shot? Richie!”
Marion Ali, Reporting
On Christmas night, twenty-three-year-old Richard Aranda was walking down Sabal Street when tragedy struck. Just after nine p.m., two men on a motorcycle approached him and shot him at close range. Aranda collapsed on the street and was quickly rushed to the Southern Regional Hospital, but sadly, he passed away half an hour later. A resident of Sabal Street, who spoke with News Five, shared that Aranda had left their house only about an hour before the fatal shots were heard. The community is left in shock and mourning as they grapple with this senseless act of violence.
Voice of: Sabal Street Resident
“He spend whole day with me right pahn da chair deh eena da corner. Ih gone buy mi two stour and mi Lala milk and ih tell mi “I gwein give mi kids dehn gift and ah wa come back and ih spend a whole day with me til after six ih gone stand up right deh. About 7:30, I call ah back and say, “Papa, I gwein inside. I tired. Ih help mi ker in all deh chairs, the table, mi box weh I play music. I tell ah goodnight. So that da after 7:30, like going for eight o’clock. I surprised fi see da bwai dead. I can’t sleep all night. I just got to rest this morning before day. I can’t believe it, man.”
For one resident, the spot where Richard Aranda was gunned down brought back chilling memories of losing a relative to gun violence years ago. This tragic incident has stirred up a sense of unease in the neighborhood once again. But who would want Richard dead, and why? His friend is grappling with the same questions. They shared a strange occurrence from that night, almost like an omen, adding another layer of mystery to this heartbreaking story.
Voice of: Sabal Street Resident
“Ih say “My bredda call me and tell me how ih dream dehn shoot me up and kill me – my bredda da jail.” I say, what? So then I look pahn ah and I say, but I have a dream that wa bwai come through the window, and dehn ih drop ih cap right deh soh. I can’t see ih face, then look pahn ah and I say but the person look like you. Then ih laugh.”
Richard Aranda was a father of two young children. Police found several expended shells at the scene, have detained one suspect, and are looking for another, both also residents of Dangriga. Marion Ali for News Five.
The body of a man was found this morning in Dangriga Town. Tyrone Miguel was found dead in a drain at around eight o’clock in the Arana Crescent area. Investigators do not suspect foul play. According to reports, Miguel fell into the drain and subsequently died.
Police in Dangriga are investigating a gruesome murder after a dismembered body was discovered inside a barrel near a popular resort. The victim has been identified as Manuel Fernandez, who was allegedly killed following a violent altercation with Loren Vanegas at a local meat shop. Vanegas, now in custody, is suspected of stabbing Fernandez to death. The Regional Commander of the Eastern Division, ACP Hilberto Romero, shared more details.
“On Sunday, the police responded to a report that a body had been found inside a plastic barrel in front of the Pelican Beach resort in Dangriga. The scene was processed. The person was removed from the barrel, and he was identified as Manuel Fernandez. The investigation revealed that Manuel Fernandez and Loren Vanegas were in a fight at the meat shop, and Vanegas inflicted the Stab wounds on Manuel Fernandez, causing his fatal injuries. Loren Vanegas is now in custody, pending charges.”
Loren Vanegas
Reporter
“You say he was stabbed; was his body also chopped up?”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“I will not go into any details. All I will say is that the body had stab wounds. They had an argument at the meat shop, then they had a confrontation, and then Vanegas caused injuries to Fernandez. They are not related. Fernandez went to the meat shop on Friday.”
Dangriga Town police are investigating a fire that damaged three structures in that municipality last night, including the iconic James Chee dry goods and grocery store. The blaze erupted at around 6:00 p.m. on Commerce Street.
Neighbours alerted the fire department after spotting flames in one building, but the fire spread rapidly, spilling over two additional houses. Video footage from the scene captured fire department personnel attempting to control the flames.
Camilla Rhaburn, a resident of one of the affected houses, told News 5 that she was awakened by the smell of smoke. “I was actually in my sleep, and I woke up to the scent of smoke. I came out and I noticed that my porch was actually set on fire… I had one of the windows in my kitchen open, so when I peeked out, it was like eclipsed, like red, something red on the wall,” she said. Rhaburn and her daughters escaped without serious injury.
She noted seeing two individuals leaving a nearby house just before realising her own home was on fire, leading her to suspect a possible case of arson.
Reports circulated that the incident had led to one fatality; however, police have reported that their investigation recorded no injuries.
Rhaburn clarified, “They assume it was me and my kids. A guy came up to me and said, “Miss, I heard you were in the fire.” And I was like, No, I wasn’t in a fire.”
