Who Killed Demitri Usher? Police Detain One Suspect

A family is left grieving as bloodshed erupted in the Old Capital on Sunday night. The deadly shooting happened a stone’s throw from one of Belize City’s main arteries, near Cemetery Road, adjacent to the Constitution Park. Surveillance cameras captured the incident and police have detained one suspect, as they continue their investigations. The victim was a father-to-be and a football player whose only fault may have been his past neighbourhood. News Five’s Marion Ali has this report on the murder of Demitri Usher. 

 

Voice of: Stepfather

“He had just bathed and eaten and gone down to the store to buy a lighter and come back in and when ih come back in, ih look like the person mi di wait by deh soh.”

 

Marion Ali

“Which is right over the fence.”

 

Voice of: Stepfather

“Right over the fence and when dehn shot ah he got shot in the head and in his chest and one in his back.”

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Demitri Usher was not supposed to be in Belize City on Sunday night. In fact, he was supposed to begin working with a construction company and was just awaiting his police record to leave and take on a new job. On Sunday night, just before eight, he returned from the shop and entered his yard on Wood Street, adjacent to the Constitution Park on Cemetery Road when a gunman shot him dead.

 

 

Voice of: Stepfather

“We hear the gunshot and we hear “ma ma” and she jump up and we run out and then when she mi deh down deh ih look like the person mi deh by the gate and ih fire two more shot again.”

 

Surveillance footage shows that the assailant stood just a few feet away in the park, arms stretched over the fence, aimed at Usher, and then the gun discharging several shots. Usher’s stepfather told News Five that his stepson called out for help. His mom ran to his aid but could not resuscitate her son. The gunman was not quite finished after he shot Usher. Another relative was just entering the yard behind Usher and he too came under fire but managed to escape.

 

Voice of: Stepfather

“Ih run into his uncle and his uncle’s stone ah with a pint and he fire shot back at his uncle again and then he went back.”

 

 

 

It appears that the shooter was one of two persons on a motorcycle that waited on Wood Street near the shop where Usher had gone to purchase. The gunman walked from there into the park and waited near the fence where he knew Usher would soon pass on his way into his house. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero shared what investigators have gathered so far.

 

A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Around 8 p.m., police responded to a shooting incident at Wood Street in Belize City. Upon their arrival, they found a male person with gunshot injuries. He was identified as Dimitri Osher, twenty-three years.  He was immediately taken to the K.H.M.H. for treatment, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Information received is that Dimitri was sitting on the steps at the house by his apartment when a male person came and fired several shots towards his direction. The male person then got onto a motorcycle and fled from the area. We have one suspect in custody and we are doing follow up regarding this murder.”

 

By all accounts, Usher was a positive young man.  His first child is expected to be born in two months, and he would have turned twenty-four in November. Today, the Ebony Lake Football Club expressed regret at the senseless killing of the athlete on their Facebook page.

 

Voice of: Stepfather

“He always deh out da the Berger Field di play football. That one and the things weh ih  like do to. Ih always deh out ya.”

 

This was the second time that someone made an attempt on Usher’s life. The first time was two years ago. His family believes that it was because of his previous address on Banak Street.

 

Voice of: Stepfather

“He used to hang out with the guys from through deh, yes and it stop.”

 

Marion Ali

“Where is that?”

 

Voice of: Stepfather

“Banak Street. And ih stop hang out around deh from four or five years ih stop hang out around deh.”

 

Police are reviewing surveillance recordings of the murder captured from different angles. Marion Ali for News Five.