Murder in Santa Elena, Anthony Smith is Gunned Down

In Santa Elena Town, a feud between two groups has led to the shooting death of a man who went to purchase food with his cousins on Sunday night.  When Anthony Smith set out along with his cousins from their Avella Street address, his family did not think that he wouldn’t be returning home alive.  While at a fast food restaurant, a lone gunman appeared on a motorcycle, opened fire on Smith, and made good his escape from the area.  Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano, once again, with that report.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Anthony Smith is the latest murder victim in Santa Elena, following a deadly shooting overnight in that municipality.  Despite concerns from residents and business owners, crime remains a pressing issue.  The deadly attack on Smith has the trappings of a bitter rivalry.  He was purchasing fast food, along with several relatives, when a gunman emerged on the scene.

 

Voice of: Aunt of Deceased

“Dehn gaan da Chinatown gaan buy wahn fry chicken and while dehn mi di wait fi dis fry chicken, dehn seh di bwai just come straight and shoot ahn right da ih chest.  Dehn shoot ahn, he drop, [and] when he drop, di bwai come over ahn gih ahn di nother shot.  And they were so frightened, di other bwai dehn, that dehn neva know weh fi do.  When deh ketch up da when dehn si di blood, right.  When dehn conscious, dehn seh di bwai mi done deh pan ih cycle and dehn seh dehn couldn’t do nothing because ih mek two shot afta di other bwai.”

 

The incident happened on a side street just off the George Price Highway.  Mei Mei, as the restaurant is known, has a security camera perched at the corner of the building.  It is not clear whether the device captured anything useful relating to the attack.

 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Sunday, June 30^th, 2024, police responded to a shooting incident in front of a restaurant in Cayo District.  Upon their arrival, they learned that one Anthony Smith, thirty years old, had been shot and was taken for treatment.  Police visited the hospital thereafter and we learned that Anthony Smith had succumbed to his injuries.  Investigation revealed that Smith was sitting in front of the restaurant when a motorcycle came and a male person came off the motorcycle and fired several shots towards his direction, causing his fatal injuries.  We have several persons detained in regards to this murder.”

 

Smith’s aunt believes that he may have been executed by someone who is known to the family; however, there is no certainty since the gunman’s face was concealed by a helmet he was reportedly wearing.

 

Voice of: Aunt of Deceased

“Dehn cyant point finger because the person mi got di think pan ih face, right.  But dehn seh dehn cyant point finga da who but dehn suggest that more or less ih could be one ah dehn enemy.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“Now, do you know Anthony for having enemies, or what was he involved with here?”

 

Voice of: Aunt of Deceased

“Well, we mi know that ih had one enemy  but we cyant call name because we noh know.  As ah tell yoh, we cyant point finger.  Soh you know we cyant seh exactly well da dat person do it because all dehn know is that the person da wahn Spanish person and di person mi got on ih helmet so like dehn couldn’t sih ih face.  Soh you know yoh can’t point finger.  Yoh cyant call name cause yoh noh know da who, right.”

 

An investigation into the murder is ongoing. Isani Cayetano for News Five.