A 56 year old cotton tree villager is dead, and police believe that Disgruntled immigrant workers killed him because they had not been paid on time. Gilroy Blancaneux was shot in his cotton tree Home on Sunday morning, and died 23 hours later in the Belmopan Hospital. It's a tragic loss for his family, and this morning in Belmopan their distress was made even more unbearable as 5 family members were locked up for plotting a vigilante attack on those who had killed their father. 7 news was in the capital as the drama unfolded:
Alfonso Noble Reporting
As they publicly grieved outside the Belmopan police station today, the distress of the Blancaneaux family was made doubly hard today as 5 relatives of the deceased were taken to Court on charges of possession of an unlicenced firearm and ammunition.
This after 56 year old Gilroy Blancaneaux was shot and killed at his home on Sunday morning around 12:15. His children who were at home at the time of the shooting say that three men visited the family home at mile 44 one the Western Highway. They surprised Emmanuel Moore who was sleeping in this red Suburban.
Frank Blancaneaux - Brother of Deceased
"He was in the Suburban, he was sitting down, I don't know what he was doing in there at the time. But the knock at the window and he thought it was a family member. When he opened the door it was right on a gun barrel."
Maud Blancaneaux - Daughter of Deceased
"They tied up my uncle outside in the Suburban and my dad heard the noise and he opened the door and as he opened the door they were out there with the gun. So they just shot him. All I heard my dad was talking like he knew the person. He was like: ‘no you are not gonna shoot me' and all I heard after that was when the gun went off. He ran then my brother went out after the man after the guy who did the shooting. And my aunt went behind and I went behind and all I saw was a man in a white T-shirt that's all."
Thydis Blancaneaux - Son of Deceased
"I see my father get up and I get up behind him and I see a next man outside but I didn't see his face. All I heard was a gunshot and my father fell to the ground."
"I never hear they said a word all I heard was my father say ‘it's you' that was all I heard him say and when he said ‘it's you' I heard the gun bust off."
"I got up and ran outside and I started chasing the man up this way but when I reach half-way I just turned back I didn't see anybody else. I didn't see his face or anything."
"I think my pa know who it is but he can't say who it is because he's gone."
Frank Blancaneaux
"My suspicion is that it was a surprise shot because of the way he got shot. It wasn't an aimed shot he was shot from sideways. When this guy came; he came to the door to get in but my brother opened the door and I think that's what got him scared and he just pulled the trigger."
Maud Blancaneaux
"I was the one with him at the hospital. I stood by his side until he died. My dad told me, he told me who did it. I informed the police and everything and they are picking up on the scene and they are trying to investigate who did it."
But it so happens that is was not only the police who are investigating the murder. Family members, 5 men, went looking for those whom they believed to be involved. They visited the home of Macedonia Ramirez in Ontario village looking for Gilbert Ramirez trying to solve the murder of their father and relative in the process. The police however intercepted them when this grey suburban was returning back from that mission. Frank Blancaneaux was one of the occupants of the vehicle.
Frank Bancaneaux
"We had suspicions that, there was this contractor that was working there, and we went after this guy just to investigate, not to kill him back and we got arrested for that. That's the reason we were in court today."
"Now I have to come back to court because I went to this house, to this contractor, to get some information and I'm charged with burglary."
He along with 20 year old Thydis were charged with Burglary. While the 5 men were originally charged with possession of an unlicenced 9 millimeter pistol and ammunition that was found under the front seat of the suburban, Thydis today took the rap for the gun when he pleaded guilty. He was fined a combined 20 thousand dollars for it and that has only worsened the family's bitterness at the loss of a loved one
Frank Blancaneaux
"Now we have to pay the court for my nephew 20 thousand dollars. So that is even worse it's even worse instead of better."
Thydis Blancaneaux
"I want fire burn on those who do it and I hope the whole country hear and all the policeman I want fire burn or else it's me who's going to burn fire."
Frank Blancaneaux
"I wish I could just put my hand on that guy I really do. I'm not crying revenge but if I could catch him I won't wait for the law to give me justice. I swear not the way I feel at this moment."
Maud Blancaneaux
"I want to say to the person who did this that we are mourning and you, what you did to my family is a tragedy and we will never overcome it and I hope to God you get what you deserve. Because you did something wrong. You did it to my dad for nothing and all I want to say is that my dad died as a hero."
"If they are our enemies I just want to say to them thanks for the motivation."
Motivation that was only tempered by grief today. And now police have to work quickly before the family takes its own revenge Investigators have a motive, a description, and a name:
Sgt. Sinquest Martinez - Investigating Officer
"At this time we have some suspects and we are looking for some people at this present moment. There are several people that we are looking for. Apparently Gilroy was being threatened before. Apparently some guys were working here and they weren't being paid. And now we are looking for those persons who could assist us in the investigations. But so far we haven't found them but we are still seeking them."
"The description that we have gotten; they are Hispanic persons."
Reporting for Seven News Alfonso Noble.
For its part, the Blancaneux family says that the contractor had been given the money to pay to his workers in full and on time. But they claim that the contractor is the one who failed to pay the employees.