Families in the tiny communities of August Pine Ridge in Orange Walk and the Mile 8 community outside of Belize City in are mourning tonight after their teenaged sons were stabbed to death in crimes connected only by their shared senselessness and the extreme aggression of young men in small communities.
We start at the Mile 8 community on the Western Highway. Last night we reported that Jason Wagner, known as 'Crazy' had been stabbed in the chest. He died at 8:00 pm and Keith Swift visited the area today to find out that what ended in a brutal killing started with the stoning of a mango skin.
Keith Swift Reporting,
At the 'mile 8' community it is the morning after 19-year-old Jason "Crazy" Wagner was murdered. And as police investigators canvassed the crime scene for answers in his murder, 'Crazy' had already been immortalized on the wall [RIP 'Çrazy' spraypainted on bus stop wall] of the bus stop near his house and on the ground in front of his neighborhood Chinese grocery shop. He was also remembered through those who knew him like neighbor Tracy Miller.
Tracy Miller,
"I never really thought he would have died like that because he is someone who likes to play and run joke. Everybody up here knows he is like that, he is someone who likes to play around."
And witnesses tell us that is just what Jason AKA "Crazy" was doing yesterday afternoon when he allegedly started to tantalize a 16 year old by throwing mango skins at him. Witnesses say that led to an altercation, which ended in murder. The lead investigator on "Crazy's" murder is Sergeant Christopher Noble.
Sgt. Chris Noble, Police Investigator
"The investigation has revealed that the male person was injured as a result of some incident here and he was taken to the hospital and died while undergoing treatment."
Keith Swift,
"That investigation led to what caused the misunderstanding? Witnesses tell us was because the victim was throwing mango skins at the accused."
Sgt. Chris Noble,
"Our investigations is still ongoing at this time. What witnesses are telling you might not be what is told to us."
While information is sketchy, there are some things we do know: this is the spot where Jason Wagner was stabbed and the incredible part is that he walked 50 yards into Tracy Miller's home and sat. She told us there was no way she thought he would have died.
Keith Swift,
"He went into your house and sat down?"
Tracy Miller,
"Yes he asked my boyfriend to take him there. I didn't know what he meant by there but I told him he needed to go the hospital because he was bleeding and blood was running down his chest."
Keith Swift,
"When he went into your house did he seem like he was in pain?"
Tracy Miller,
"No he didn't really look like he was in pain or anything like that. He just looked like…to me he looked like he was playing at first until I saw blood running down his chest and then I realized something did happen to him. But he didn't really look like he was in pain or anything like that."
Jason "Crazy" Wagner died at about 8 last night. And more tragic is that his accused murderer is a 16-year-old former student at St. Michael's High School. The mile 8 community is both in mourning and shock.
Tracy Miller,
"He was a fun person to be around."
Keith Swift,
"How he got the name Crazy?"
Tracy Miller,
"Because liked to act retarded and stupid. He never did anything to hurt anyone but he just liked to tease and act silly."
Police intend to charge the 16-year-old suspect with murder which means he will be remanded to the Hattieville prison.