A Chinese grocer was gunned down in his store last night by ruthless armed robbers. It's the kind of crime that's regularly reported in Belize City and other population centers, but it's completely unheard of in San Joaquin. But that's where this one happened last night and our affiliates at the Northern Cable Network visited the scene this morning to find workers and residents incredulous that this could have happened there.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
As the family of 34 year old Ligi San from Sammy's Store in San Joaquin put up bows to mark the store-owner's passing, they are still trying to come to terms with what happened last night. An employee off camera says it was an assault with murderous intent.
Victim's Employee,
"Last night about nine o'clock the boss was trying to close the place and somebody went in the shop and tried to rob him. They didn't say anything, they just shot him."
He was shot and collapsed into a pool of his own blood. The thieves rummaged behind the counter even as he lay there writhing on the ground in the throes of death. According to this eyewitness and area resident, the thieves were hiding out behind the village clinic down an adjoining road.
Witness,
"At 9:05 I saw them when they came down from the clinic. They went in. I heard a gunshot. One of them came out with a box of chips. One of the chips fell out while the other came out running. After that I saw the Chinese lady come out crying. They were skinny, tall dressed in full black one of them had a stocking over his face."
According to this witness they then ran back towards the clinic 100 yards away. Police say the three suspects are men from the general area. They remain detained but have not been charged.
At news time this evening those three detainees had not been charged.
